MPR News Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner signs off

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support


Gov. Jerry Brown instituted California's 

first-ever statewide mandatory water reductions 

on Wednesday, as the state endures its fourth year of drought.


"This historic drought demands unprecedented action," Brown said, mandating several new conservation measures:

 will also require cemeteries, golf courses and other "large landscapes" to reduce water consumption; place new irrigation standards on new homes and developments; and incentivize new technologies to make the state more water-efficient.
Brown announced the new measures in a dramatic scene: "Today we are standing on dry grass where there should be 5 feet of snow," he said at a press conference in an extremely dry part of the 

. The region is usually a major source of water for the state but now has a snowpack that is at the lowest level on record, 

Brown's office estimates that the 25 percent reduction mandate for California cities alone should save the state 1.5 million acre-feet of water over the next nine months.


Last year, Brown declared a drought state of emergency, and just a few days ago, he signed a 

$1.1 billion emergency drought relief bill

Environmental News

Sam Sanders

Author

"This historic drought demands unprecedented action," Governor Jerry Brown said.

California governor issues statewide mandatory water reductions

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox