DTF North State G2G
Channel: Cal OES
Date: 23/06/2014

Summer heat is already intensifying the effects of the ongoing and historic drought. The Governor's Interagency Drought Task Force met June 13th with local government officials from the North State to hear first-hand how the drought is affecting their towns and counties. 

Siskiyou, Modoc, Trinity, Shasta, Lassen, & Tehama County government officials, water managers, agricultural commissioners and local tribe leaders gathered at the Montague Community Hall to share their current mitigation efforts and how the state can continue to partner with them to make sure swift response to public safety, public health and ecological concerns.

"Meeting face-to-face with local leaders and having open dialogues with those who are experiencing extremely harsh drought impacts is really helping us have an accurate assessment on the drought, take actions and coordinate the response," said Cal OES Director and Chair of the Governor's Drought Task Force Mark Ghilarducci.

This year, the state is experiencing its third year of drought, with this year's rainfall deficit being the most extreme. Lake Shastina is now at a level of about 5,060 acre-feet, 83% below the historical average.

On Friday, April 27th, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. signed an executive order that cuts red tape to help get water to farmers more quickly, ensure communities have safe drinking water, protect vulnerable species and prepare for an extreme fire season. The order also calls on doubling water conservation efforts in every way possible.

"California has communities at risk of acute drinking water shortages," said Nancy Ward, Deputy Director of Cal OES. "It's critical that we all work together to come up with solutions to cope with our statewide crisis."

Drought Task Force Leaders have made stops in Sacramento, the North Coast (Ukiah,) the northern San Joaquin Valley (Merced,) the Central Coast (Santa Cruz,) and Tulare County (Visalia.)

"Our tour of California communities will continue, and we'll show how leadership and teamwork will allow us to persevere as a resilient California," Ghilarducci said. "I've said this before, and I believe it: through water conservation efforts, sharing best practices and staying ahead of this scarcity, we are going to survive this drought."

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Chief Deputy Director for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Nancy Ward speaking at today's Drought Task Force meeting in Montague, Calif.

Chief Deputy Director for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Nancy Ward speaking at today's Drought Task Force meeting in Montague, Calif.

Attendees of the meeting included:
 Nancy Ward, Deputy Director -- Governor's Office of Emergency services
 Felicia Marcus, Board Chair -- State Water Resources Control Board
 Karen Ross, Secretary -- Calif. Department of Food & Agriculture
 Sabrina Sassman, Bureau Chief, Welfare, Fraud and Emergency Food Assistance Bureau -- Calif. Dept. of Social Services
 Bill Croyle, Director, Drought Management Operations Center -- Dept. of Water Resources
 Guerdon Stuckey, Asst. Deputy Director -- Housing and Community Development Dept. of Financial Assistance
 Cynthia Gomez, Tribal Advisor -- Governor's Office
 Eric Lamoureux, Inland Regional Administrator -- Governor's Office of Emergency Services