California is currently facing an unprecedented drought, which will require all Californians to work together. We're all united by water in the state, from urban and rural communities, to farmers, fishermen, sportsmen, and large and small businesses. I urge all Californians to heed Governor Brown's call for conservation, and I commit to continuing to work with local, state, and federal officials to ensure that resources and relief are coordinated for the benefit of all the state's citizens.
The following is a listing of resources and information to help Californians through these difficult times. This page will be updated frequently, and I encourage you to engage in the important discussions occurring about water use within the state and your local community.
There are a number of steps Californians can take to conserve water during this historic drought.
Save Our Water, a program created by the California Department of Water Resources and the Association of California Water Agencies, has a helpful list of tips to conserve water both inside and outside the home.
Rebate information is available to consumers through EPA's WaterSense program and through additional initiatives that can be found on your local water agency's webpage.
Farmers and ranchers can be immediately and profoundly affected by drought.
For information about how to manage crops through a drought, the University of California has created a resource that includes Crop Irrigation Strategies and Irrigation Scheduling practices.
Federal and state agencies worked with the University of California to develop 17 drought tips for farmers during a multi-year statewide drought that lasted from 1987 to 1991. You can view them here.
The University of California's California Institute for Water Resources webpage contains up-to-date information on the efforts of academic institutions to provide resources for ranchers and farmers during this year's historic drought.
A list of federal assistance programs can be found on the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) website or on the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) website.
Small businesses are a large part of the California economy and can suffer greatly from drought.
For tips on how small businesses can conserve, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has a list of water-saving techniques.
The SBA offers loans to those who qualify to help businesses meet financial obligations during a drought disaster. Types of small businesses that may qualify for a loan include "small, nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations."
Water agencies play an important role in conserving California's water resources. Here are a few ways that agencies can conserve:
-To learn more about what projects are happening in your local municipality, this map created by the UC Davis College of Agricultural Sciences contains water conservation practices, low-water plants, and additional rebate programs for consumers throughout California.
Federal, state, and local water projects compose California's intricate water system. This system helps serve the needs of our communities. The major sources of water in California are:
To find out where your community's water comes from, visit the Water Education Foundation's "Where does my water come from?" website.