Governor issues drought emergency order

California’s drought conditions show no sign of abating.

The water year that ended Sept. 30 was the second driest on record. All of California’s 58 counties are under a drought emergency proclamation. January, February and March 2022 were the driest on record dating back over 100 years. Just 6 inches of precipitation were recorded in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. That is less than half the precipitation accumulated in the first three months of 2013, which had been the driest, the state’s water agencies recently reported.

Since July, when the governor asked Californians to conserve water, at least 15% of their water use compared to 2020, the statewide average savings has been 6.2%, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) recently reported. It was 7.3% in December, but water use increased in January and was only 0.5% savings in February.

While Gov. Gavin Newsom is not a rainmaker, he still must govern a state in a drought, which weather forecasters expect to worsen. Consequently, on March 28, he issued an Executive Order (EO) asking local water agencies to recognize the drought’s threats and, therefore, to take more actions to conserve water supplies.

Newsom directed the SWRCB to adopt regulations banning water use for “non-functional turf” in the commercial, industrial and institutional sectors. The EO defines this as “… ornamental and not otherwise used for human recreation purposes such as school fields, sports fields, and parks …”

This section has no applicability on the Hill. For example, Idyllwild School replaced the grass on its athletic field with artificial turf years ago.

However, SWRCB will be urging water districts to adopt, at least, level 2 drought conditions.

Currently, the three Hill districts each are in a different water emergency stage.

Idyllwild Water District is in Stage 1. General Manager Leo Havener said, “Based on the static water level, pumping levels and storage, we’re in good shape. I’m in the process of completing an analysis of past data to project to the future.”

Pine Cove Water District (PCWD) is currently in Stage 2. “Our water table is good and the wells are holding up,” said Jeremy Potter, interim general manager. “There may be opportunities to come out of Stage 2. But we’ll wait and see. As for the drought, it is with us, we have to adapt to it.”

Fern Valley Water District is the most concerned of the Hill districts. Currently, FVWD is in Stage 3. “I see more drought. I don’t know how long the dryness will last,” said Victor Jimenez, general manager. “The drought is not over. Overall, it’s been a dry eight to 12 years. We need to conserve and more preparation.”