The drought continues, for a while at least.
It may be hard to comprehend, but the State Water Resources Control Board says the need for continued water conservation continues because, despite recent storms, Central and Southern California remain in drought conditions and the statewide snowpack is below average.
Certain regions of the state – the Bay Area and the coast north of Santa Cruz – are no longer in drought conditions, according to national hydrologists. The Santa Cruz Mountains and Monterey Bay as of last week were considered no longer in drought, but in “extremely dry” conditions, according to the weekly California Drought Map prepared by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Within continuing rains, that condition could change as early as next week.
Although October through early January rains in Northern California provided an encouraging start to the 2016-2017 water year (Oct. 1, 2016 – Sept. 30, 2017), much of the state still has not recovered from the severe drought conditions that have persisted for the past four years, according to state hydrologists. Heavy rains don’t necessarily ease the drought, because much of the water runs off to the ocean, rather than replenishing aquifers.
Measurements by the Department of Water Resources indicate that the statewide snowpack is about 70 percent of average for early January, because of warmer temperatures.
The water board will continue to monitor conservation levels and water supply conditions, and will present a staff proposal to extend emergency conservation regulations for public discussion on Jan. 18. The proposal may include a return to or easing of state-mandated conservation targets if dry conditions return or if conservation levels slip significantly.
The board won’t be acting on the staff proposals on Jan. 18; staff will be bringing a proposal to the Board for consideration in February after taking into account comments from the Jan. 18 public workshop in Sacramento.
The current conservation regulation adopted in May 2016 is part of a wider effort to build on short-term, emergency water restrictions, establish permanent conservation measures and eliminate the worst water-wasting practices.
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