June 2008

U.S. Water News Online

FRESNO, Calif. — Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in nine Central Valley counties grappling with severe water shortages.

The governor says below-average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff and a court-ordered restriction on water transfers have led to shortages in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties.

The emergency declaration comes a week after the governor declared a statewide drought.

The declaration will allow the Department of Water Resources to transfer groundwater through the California Aqueduct to help farmers in the affected counties.

The governor is also directing the State Water Resources Control Board to give speedy review to water transfers.

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