Gov. Brown Issues Order To Increase State's Drought Actions
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Gov. Jerry Brown Friday issued an executive order to increase California's drought actions.
"The driest months are still to come in California and extreme drought conditions will get worse," Brown said in a statement. "This order cuts red tape to help get water to farmers more quickly, ensures communities have safe drinking water, protects vulnerable species and prepares for an extreme fire season. I call on every city, every community, every Californian to conserve water in every way possible."
Brown declared a state of emergency in January, but water officials say rainfall totals remain critically low.
The order calls for the expedited approval of voluntary water transfers that assist farmers, as well as projects to monitor and restore habitats for the state's fish, including Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River.
Residents and businesses have been asked to limit lawn watering and car washing. The order also "recommends that schools, parks and golf courses limit the use of potable water for irrigation; and asks that hotels and restaurants give customers options to conserve water by only serving water upon request and other measures. The order also prevents homeowner associations from fining residents that limit their lawn watering and take other conservation measures."
For more information, visit the state's official drought site. To read about ways you can reduce your water usage, visit SaveOurH20.org.