Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
  • State Government
  • Environment
  •  

More Money For Drought Aid, But No Mandatory Conservation

  •  Ben Adler 
Thursday, March 19, 2015 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
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.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    More about drought

  • State Of Drought

    Reservoir levels are at historic lows, municipalities are ordering mandatory conservation and farmers are bracing for water shortages. CapRadio is following 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.

    Related Stories

  • 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

Director of Programming and Audience Development

Director of Programming and Audience Development Ben Adler first became a public radio listener in the car on his way to preschool — though not necessarily by choice.  Read Full Bio 

More State Government Stories

Lauren Justice/CalMatters

New report says Cal State has $1.5 billion funding gap, suggests tuition hikes

May 26, 2023

Rich Pedroncelli for KFF Health News

Newsom and Democratic lawmakers at odds over billions in health care funds

May 30, 2023

John G. Mabanglo/Pool Photo via AP

Delta Tunnel plan touted by Newsom gets push-back from Congress member

May 24, 2023

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a Tip / Story Idea
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.