After January and February were recorded as the driest months in more than 100 years in the Sierra Nevada, Governor Gavin Newsom He said an additional $22.5 million will be invested to respond immediately to the drought emergency.
The additional $22.5 million allocation includes more funding for the Department of Water Resources, the State Water Resources Control Board, and the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
More than a third of the money — $8.25 million — will be used to increase outreach efforts to educate Californians about water conservation measures and practices.
“These investments continue to provide critical support to impacted communities across the state,” Deputy Finance Director Erika Li wrote in a letter to legislative budget and appropriations leaders.
Earlier this month, the state launched new video announcements to encourage Californians to reduce outdoor watering.
On March 1, the state's snowpack survey showed levels were dropping sharply after heavy storms in December. Current snowpack readings are about a third below average.
In light of this, the Department of Water Resources is reviewing the most recent snowpack data and has indicated that it may revise its current forecast for State Water Project deliveries in 2022.
With the infusion of additional state budget funds, the Save Our Water campaign is gearing up to reach Californians with water-saving tips through social media and other digital ads, geotargeted to counties with high water use.
The campaign is also securing partnerships with retailers and other organizations to urge Californians to reduce water use in the immediate term and also make permanent changes to the landscape to build resilience for the future.
You may be interested in: The fight against time to stop climate change
