Newsom Expands Drought Emergency To Alameda County

CALIFORNIA — Gov. Gavin Newsom stopped short of declaring a statewide drought emergency on Monday, instead expanding his previous declaration to include 39 more counties where the affected Klamath River, Sacramento-San Joaquin and Tulare Lake watersheds reside.

Alameda County was among those added to the emergency order, which Newsom announced standing against the backdrop of the depleted San Luis Reservoir in Merced County.

Newsom signed an executive order three weeks ago declaring a regional drought emergency in Sonoma and Mendocino counties.

The order now covers 41 of 58 counties, encompassing 30 percent of the state's nearly 40 million people.

The U.S. Drought Monitor showed most of the state in extreme drought, with parts of the American West under exceptional drought. Drought conditions have worsened recently just a few years after the Golden State emerged from a punishing multiyear dry spell.

The order directed the State Water Board to toughen requirements for reservoir releases. The order could also allow the state agency to reduce the volume of water farmers and others can draw from rivers.

"As we said, at the time, just three weeks ago, we were going to flex up based upon need," Newsom said.

A combination of soaring temperatures through April and May and significant snowmelt triggered the need for an expanded emergency order, Newsom said.

"In the last few weeks, we've lost roughly 500,000 acre-feet of runoff compared to what we had anticipated — which put in two languages that I hope people can understand is the equivalent of 1 million households receiving water for a year," Newsom said.

The Sierra Nevada snowpack, which provides about a third of the state’s water, was at just 59 percent of average on April 1, when it is normally at its peak.

The state also has a pressing snowmelt problem, as much of the snow seeped into the dry ground to evaporate instead of flowing into rivers and reservoirs, Newsom said.

"I'm standing here in front of a reservoir that's about 57 percent of its seasonal average in terms of capacity," Newsom said.

Newsom said the state is encouraging Californians to use "common sense" in water use, and water conservation measures will not be enforced just yet.

"It’s time for Californians to pull together once again to save water," California Natural Resources Agency Secretary Wade Crowfoot said in a statement.

Just a few hours before Newsom's conference at the San Luis reservoir, the governor announced a hefty $100 billion "California Comeback Plan" proposal to render aid to struggling Californians, made possible by a historic budget surplus.

"This time last year we announced a $54.3 billion projected shortfall. Today, we are announcing a projected $75.7 billion budget surplus," Newsom said, speaking from Alameda County on Monday morning. "It's a remarkable turnaround. ... California is going to come roaring back."

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Some $5.1 billion of that economic relief plan would go to addressing water needs up and down the state of California, Newsom said. That funding would go to "long-term water resilience investments to address immediate, emergency needs, build regional capacity to endure drought and safeguard water supplies for communities, the economy and the environment. "

Newsom is expected to unveil his full budget plan on Friday. After that, it will be left up to the Legislature to negotiate a spending plan by June 15.

"Shoring up our water resilience, especially in small and disadvantaged communities, is imperative to safeguarding the future of our state in the face of devastating climate change impacts that are intensifying drought conditions and threatening our communities, the economy and the environment," Newsom said in a statement.

SEE ALSO: Gov. Newsom Declares Drought Emergency In 2 California Counties

The Associated Press contributed to this report.