Drought Emergency Declared By Sonoma County: 'No Water To Waste'

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors at its meeting Tuesday adopted a resolution proclaiming a local drought emergency and requesting Gov. Gavin Newsom seek a Presidential Disaster Declaration.

The governor while visiting Lake Mendocino last Wednesday proclaimed a state of emergency in Sonoma and Mendocino counties because of drought conditions in the Russian River Watershed.

After two consecutive extraordinarily dry years, Lake Mendocino is at 43 percent of target capacity and Lake Sonoma is at 62 percent of capacity, both the lowest they have been on this date, county officials said Tuesday in a news release.

"In collaboration with Governor Newsom’s proclamation last week, the County proclamation will provide more tools to support the region's local agriculture and economy, such as funding requests for drought-related response activities," said Sonoma County Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, chair of the Board of Supervisors.

"The drought in Sonoma County may result in broad impacts and considerations that extend beyond drinking water and conservation efforts. In some instances, such as local agriculture, the drought has created a critical emergency with significant crop loss and costs to local producers. Now is the time to save every drop of water," Hopkins said. "There is no water to waste."

Current water supply conditions can be viewed on Sonoma Water's website.

The county's proclamation covers the entire Sonoma County Operational Area, including all nine cities and special districts. Under California’s Standardized Emergency Management System — SEMS— the county will serve as the lead agency for mutual aid and coordination with these jurisdictions and the state through the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.

With this proclamation, additional coordination within the Operational Area will occur to help identify what actions and resources are needed to address broad community impacts, particularly to local agriculture, county officials said.

"Immediate water savings are needed from all members of our community, including urban, commercial, industrial and agriculture," said Sonoma County Supervisor David Rabbitt, who serves as the board's liaison to Sonoma Water. "We can only beat this drought if we act together. Today's proclamation and earlier action by Governor Newsom will help provide tools to beat this drought."

With the proclamation in place, money for drought-related response activities and public outreach may become available and could also assist the agricultural community, alleviate the increased fire risk, and streamline projects that protect and preserve drinking and agricultural water supplies, the county said.

• RELATED: Gov. Newsom Declares Drought Emergency In 2 California Counties

Reimbursements under the California Disaster Assistance Act are not available through Newsom's current proclamation but would allow for reimbursement up to 75 percent of costs incurred under this locally proclaimed emergency.

In the resolution passed Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors requests that Newsom immediately authorize CDAA reimbursement, that he seek all other available federal disaster assistance, including through a Presidential Declaration of Emergency, and that he waive regulations that may hinder response and recovery efforts.

County staff is expected to provide a situational update May 11 to the Board of Supervisors with information about efforts to date and additional possible actions to address the emergency.