California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Friday that is intended to make it easier to divert and store excess water.
The executive order comes as an atmospheric river is expected to batter the state with rain over the coming days.
The big picture: Newsom’s executive order directs the California Department of Water Resources “to take all feasible and appropriate action to maximize diversions of excess flows that become available as a result of the anticipated winter storms, and other winter storms, to storage, including storage in San Luis Reservoir.”
- The order also directs state agencies to identify and remove any obstacles that hinder efforts to maximize water deliveries to storage with the coming storms.
State of play: After an above average start to the year, California’s latest snowpack reading on Friday delivered dire news.
- California’s snowpack is at 65% of average for Jan. 31.
What he’s saying: “It is more important than ever that we maximize every opportunity to recharge our groundwater supplies,” Newsom said. “As we anticipate rain and snow in Northern California, we are also preparing to use every last drop to boost our water supply for communities and farms throughout the state. By storing these stormwaters, we are creating a literal rainy day fund to help us recover from a multi-year drought and prepare for our hotter, drier future.”
