Just in to the Red County/ San Bernardino newsroom is a press release from the Governor's office. It seems that issues of water management are becoming more and more serious. Now, Riverside County is in a state of emergency because of record low precipitation.

Governor Schwarzenegger today proclaimed a State of Emergency in Riverside County due to drought conditions. The Riverside County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency on July 17, 2007, citing reduced water availability for people and property in Riverside County and $4 million in crop damage from continuing drought conditions.

"I am directing the Office of Emergency Services and all other key state agencies to help provide immediate assistance to water agencies in Riverside County under the State Natural Disaster Assistance Act to drill new water wells or modify existing wells as needed, and provide other assistance to local governments under the California Disaster Assistance Act," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

"The situation in Riverside County shows how precarious California's water infrastructure is and underscores the need for a comprehensive plan for conveyance, storage and conservation. The decreasing Sierra Nevada snow pack and declining conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, combined with our rising population, will make it increasingly more difficult to maintain adequate water supplies in California. We need a comprehensive plan for California's water future. That plan must include conservation and water-use efficiency measures, flood control, a new conveyance system and additional storage capacity - both surface storage and groundwater."

The Governor's Water Infrastructure Plan includes $5.9 billion in water bonds to build new water storage, alternative conveyance to protect the Delta and funding for local water conservation and efficiency programs.
Governor Schwarzenegger also proclaimed a State of Emergency in Kings County on June 23, 2007 due to drought conditions.

Below is the full text of the Governor's proclamation:

A PROCLAMATION
OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS during the past twelve months, areas of Riverside County have experienced the lowest precipitation on record, creating severe drought conditions; and

WHEREAS the severe drought conditions in Riverside County are continuing; and

WHEREAS the severe drought conditions have caused reduced water availability
for people and property in Riverside County; and

WHEREAS the severe drought conditions have caused over $4 million in crop damage; and

WHEREAS as a result of the severe drought conditions in Riverside County, range lands and pastures cannot sustain livestock, and livestock have been shipped outside the state, resulting in significant economic loss; and

WHEREAS on July 17, 2007, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors took action to request that the United States Department of Agriculture declare a disaster in Riverside County and implement the emergency loan program; and

WHEREAS on July 17, 2007, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors declared a local emergency due to the severe drought conditions; and

WHEREAS on July 17, 2007, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors requested that I declare a state of emergency due to the severe drought conditions in Riverside County; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of this situation, by reason of their magnitude, are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provision of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist within Riverside County caused by the current and continuing severe drought conditions.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the California Constitution and the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within Riverside County.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that all agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of my Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the State Emergency Plan.

I FURTHER DIRECT THAT:

1. OES provide disaster assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act, such as assistance to water districts for the drilling of water wells or the modification of existing wells as necessary to mitigate the drought conditions in Riverside County.

2. The Director of OES, upon receipt of adequate information from Riverside County, request a designation of agricultural disaster from the United States Department of Agriculture for Riverside County.

3. Key state governmental agencies, including, but not limited to, OES, the Department of Water Resources, the Department of Public Health, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and the Business Transportation and Housing Agency, provide technical and administrative assistance as necessary to address water shortages statewide.

I FURTHER DIRECT that as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 19th day of July 2007.