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  • State Government
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More Money For Drought Aid, But No Mandatory Conservation

  •  Ben Adler 
Thursday, March 19, 2015 | Sacramento, CA | Permalink
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Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

Gov. Jerry Brown discusses new emergency drought legislation at a Capitol news conference Thursday, joined by Democratic and Republican leaders.

Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

California Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders aren’t calling for any mandatory water conservation in this fourth year of drought. Instead, they’re offering emergency drought aid for a second straight year, even though the state has yet to spend nearly half of last year’s emergency drought money.

The governor faced repeated questions over whether the State Water Board’s new conservation actions are enough. The board limited outdoor residential watering to twice a week – a requirement already in place in some parts of the state.

Brown did not announce any new water conservation rules. But he hinted that day might come soon if the rain does not.

“If I really think we need to go to 20 or 25 percent, don’t have any doubts – we’re gonna increasingly control the use of water to the point where you have to get a lot more efficient,” he told reporters at a Capitol news conference Thursday backed by Democratic and Republican legislative leaders. “It’s gonna be expensive and everybody’s got to do their part – and they will.”

In the meantime, Brown announced a new billion-dollar drought package – with money for water recycling, desalination, water quality and flood protection projects. The governor negotiated the legislation only with Democratic leaders. Republicans signaled their support too, but said this package isn’t enough.

“I’m calling on the state water agencies, on state government, to get projects out of the red tape; to get them moving, because they’ve been hung up for decades,” said Assembly Minority Leader Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto).

In fact, the governor’s office acknowledged that the state has spent just $470 million of last year’s $870 million dollars of emergency drought funding. Brown said there’s a limit to how fast state agencies can work.

Lawmakers hope to approve this year's drought aid before they start their spring break in a week.

    More about drought

  • State Of Drought

    Reservoir levels are at historic lows, municipalities are ordering mandatory conservation and farmers are bracing for water shortages. Capital Public Radio has continuous coverage on how Californians are being impacted by the drought.

    More about California Budget 2015

  • California Budget 2015-2016

    Complete coverage of California's budgeting process for the year 2015-2016 -- from Gov. Jerry Brown's initial and revised proposals, to expert analysis and lawmaker reactions, to debate, revisions and eventual passage.

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  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    Brown Signs Drought Legislation, Calls For Conservation

    Friday, March 27, 2015
    Just over a week after proposing a billion dollars in drought help, California Governor Jerry Brown has signed the aid package into law.
  • Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

    Lawmakers Send California Drought Aid Package To Governor

    Thursday, March 26, 2015
    The California Legislature has sent a $1 billion emergency drought aid package to Gov. Jerry Brown. But one of the two measures in the package drew opposition from Republicans.
  • Andrew Nixon / Capital Public Radio

    California Senate Approves Drought Aid Package

    Wednesday, March 25, 2015
    California Gov. Jerry Brown’s $1 billion drought response legislation is on its way to the Assembly after winning Senate approval Wednesday afternoon.
  • Capitol Chat: Legislature Reacts To Brown's Emergency Drought Plan

    Friday, March 20, 2015
    Democratic leaders called this drought a “crisis” when they unveiled emergency legislation Thursday. CapRadio's Katie Orr delves into how lawmakers are reacting to the plan.
  • Ben Adler / Capital Public Radio

    Brown, De León, Atkins To Unveil Emergency Drought Legislation Thursday

    Wednesday, March 18, 2015
    The $1.1 billion emergency drought legislation to be announced Thursday by Gov. Jerry Brown and Democratic legislative leaders will include money for water recycling, desalination, water quality and flood protection projects.

 droughtCalifornia Budget 2015

Ben Adler

Capitol Bureau Chief

Capitol Bureau Chief Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool – though not necessarily by choice. Now, he leads Capital Public Radio’s state Capitol coverage, which airs on NPR stations across California.  Read Full Bio 

 @adlerben Email Ben Adler

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