Drought — Mountains Southwest Shasta County To Northern Lake County, California

2015-06-01 to 2015-06-30 · Mountains Southwest Shasta County To Northern Lake County, California

Event narrative

The drought continues to impact Lake County, with farmers clipping some wine grape vines, reducing irrigation needed this summer, while also reducing their harvest. Agriculture and related businesses have continued to lose jobs.

Wider weather episode

The long term drought continued through June with yet another below normal month for precipitation for much of the area. There was some mountain rain, but much of it was focused along and east of the crest. Without a snow pack, reservoirs across the area by the end of the month were at well below normal levels and were continuing to drop.

Extreme drought was detected by the U.S. Drought Monitor across most the region, with exceptional drought for the northern San Joaquin Valley, the central and southern Sacramento Valley, the Burney Basin and the Sierra south of Interstate 80.

Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency for the entire state of California January 17, 2014 and this continued to be in effect.

As a result of continuing drought conditions, emergency legislation appropriated over $1 billion of additional funds for drought-related projects and activities.

The Administration's May Revision proposal includes an additional $2.2 billion for programs that protect and expand local water supplies, improve water conservation, and provide immediate relief to impacted communities.

Local Emergency Proclamations have been issued for El Dorado, Glenn, Lake, Plumas, San Joaquin, Shasta, Sutter, Tuolumne, and Yuba counties. The cities of Live Oak Lodi, and Ripon continue in a drought emergency. Drought task forces have been established in Butte, Lake, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Sutter, Tehama, Tuolumne, and Yolo counties to coordinate response to the drought.

Mandatory water reductions of 25 percent as ordered by Governor Brown continue to be in effect statewide, the first time such mandatory restrictions have been enacted.

Agriculture has been heavily impacted, with numerous farm and farm related jobs lost. The state continued to supply food assistance to those impacted. California Disaster Assistance Act money continued to be provided for those who have lost drinking water due to dry wells.

Additional impacts included low runoff in streams and rivers on fish and ecological affects on forests and wildlife.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 589222. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.