April 10, 2017

Gov. Brown last week lifted the drought state of emergency in most of California, excluding Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Tuolumne counties. However, water reporting requirements remain in effect and wasteful practices — including watering during or right after rainfall, hosing off sidewalks and irrigating ornamental turf on public street medians — are still prohibited. Counties that are still under a state of emergency will continue to use emergency drinking water projects to help address diminished groundwater supplies. Concurrent with this announcement, state agencies issued a plan, which would require new legislation, to establish long-term water conservation measures and improve planning for more frequent and severe droughts. The full press release is available online.