California drought: Newsom lifts drought restrictions following recent storms
Erin Rode
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that he will roll back some of the state's drought restrictions following a wet winter season marked by several atmospheric rivers and snow in unexpected parts of the state.
"We've been waiting for this moment for some time to ask the rhetorical question and answer it: 'Are we out of the drought, is the drought over in the state of California?' Well, I want to affirm your instinct that it should be, it feels like it is. It is and continues to be complicated. And I know that's disappointing for some because it would be nice to have a governor say the drought is over. But unfortunately, the complication requires nuance," Newsom said on Friday.
Newsom announced a "more nuanced advancement" on drought restrictions in the state, whittling down the 81 drought provisions that have taken effect since April 2021 to just 33.
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"We came out of the three driest years in recorded history. In the last three weeks, we've experienced among. . . the wettest three-week period in California history," Newsom said, noting that it's still unclear whether 1862 experienced a wetter period.
Among the rescinded provisions include a 15% voluntary water conservation target enacted in July 2021, which called for Californians to reduce water usage by 15% compared to 2020 levels. Coachella Valley water agencies have struggled to hit that target, and last summer local water customers were using about three times the state average amount of water per person.
Local agencies took issue with the use of 2020 as a baseline, since the Coachella Valley's seasonal population and tourism were impacted by the pandemic that year, resulting in fewer visitors and less water use than normal. In January 2023, the most recent month where data is available, Coachella Valley Water District water use was up by 10% compared to January 2020, Desert Water Agency water use was down by 19.1%, and Mission Springs Water District water use was down by 4.1%.
Cumulative water use since July 2021 was down by 1% in Coachella Valley Water District compared to the 2020 baseline, down by 6.1% in Desert Water Agency, and down by 3.6% in Mission Springs Water District.
Newsom also lifted a restriction that took effect this summer and required water suppliers to implement their Level 2 demand reduction actions.
After the last drought, the state started requiring cities and other water districts to submit drought response plans that detail six levels of conservation based on how much water is available, with districts setting their own rules for restrictions implemented at each level. Level 2 assumes a 20% water shortage.
Each water agency has its own regulations that take effect under this Level 2 designation, but in the Coachella Valley actions have included prohibiting outdoor water use for spray irrigation during daylight hours, only allowing restaurants to serve water upon request, increasing water waste patrols, and increasing turf rebate amounts.
Drought restrictions in the Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley Water District has an item on its upcoming March 28 board agenda to allocate an additional $1 million towards desert landscape rebates and to consider rescinding financial drought penalties the agency started charging this summer, according to CVWD spokesperson Scott Burritt.
"We also expect the board will provide direction to staff on rolling back Level 2 of our Water Shortage Contingency Plan," Burritt wrote in an email to The Desert Sun. "CVWD encourages customers to continue practicing water use efficiency by repairing leaks quickly and taking advantage of our rebate programs."
MSWD spokesperson Marion Champion also noted that the agency would need to bring the Level 2 restrictions back to the board before any restrictions are lifted.
"Living is the desert, conservation is a way of life for our community; however we are pleased to see the improved hydrology and will be bringing this to our Board for further discussion," Champion wrote in an email to The Desert Sun.
Desert Water Agency spokesperson Ashley Metzger echoed these comments.
"DWA will press on with programs to help customers conserve. We live in a desert and are always working to save water for future generations. That said, there is no shortage emergency here and DWA’s Board will consider removing some or all of the heightened water restrictions in place," wrote Metzger in an email to The Desert Sun.
The Desert Sun has also reached out to Desert Water Agency for more information on whether they will roll back drought restrictions. This story will be updated.