Governor Calls on State to Voluntarily Conserve Water, Expands Drought Emergency to Additional Counties

Governor Gavin Newsom, speaking from San Luis Obispo County on Thursday, announced his Administration has added nine counties to the regional drought state of emergency and called on state residents to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15 percent compared to 2020 levels. Recall, Governor Newsom earlier this spring issued a regional drought emergency for 41 counties amid historically low water levels throughout the state.

This week’s addition of nine counties – Inyo, Marin, Mono, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, San Mateo, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz – to the state’s emergency brings the total to 50 of the state’s 58 counties under the drought state of emergency. According to the Newsom Administration, the expansion of the emergency will enable state agencies to support drought response more quickly and effectively through actions such as expediting purchasing and contracting to complete projects that shore up water supplies.

Additional information from the Governor’s Office is available here.