On April 1st, Governor Brown issued an Executive Order in response to the continued drought. The actions announced continue the orders and provisions contained in the Governor’s January 17, 2014 and April 25, 2014 Executive Orders (with some modifications). In addition, new initiatives were announced to address current severe drought conditions and beyond, as the possibility exists that the current drought will stretch into a fifth straight year in 2016. The actions announced seek to save water, increase enforcement to prevent wasteful water use, streamline the state’s drought response, and invest in new technologies to make California more drought resilient.
For the first time in the state’s history, the Governor has directed the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) to implement mandatory water reductions of 25 percent to reduce water usage. Other actions to reduce water usage include the replacement of 50 million square feet of lawns throughout the state with drought tolerant landscaping in partnership with local agencies. New enforcement actions include providing new authority to the State Water Board to inspect property or diversions to ascertain compliance with water rights law and regulations and to require local governments to report on the implementation and enforcement of local water efficient landscape ordinances. Streamlining the state’s drought response includes working with counties to provide temporary assistance for persons moving from housing units (served by a private well or water utility with less than 15 connections) due to a lack of potable water and where all reasonable attempts to find a potable water source has been exhausted.
Executive Order B-29-15 can be accessed here.