SACRAMENTO – (INT) – Even as Southern California wilts under another heat wave, Governor Newsom has called off the drought state of emergency in 19 counties where conditions have improved significantly. Riverside and San Bernardino counties are no longer considered in a drought.

Local water supplies in thirty-nine other counties are still impacted and going through long-term recovery.

The Governor also rescinded certain provisions of prior executive orders related to flooding caused by 2023’s late winter storms. California is grappling with more extreme cycles of wet and dry.

“As the weather makes clear, California and the West experience extreme weather swings that exacerbate our water challenges and make it more important than ever that we build a climate-resilient water system,” said Governor Newsom.

The drought has depleted groundwater supplies. Domestic well failures and harm to native fish – persist in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River basins, the Tulare Lake basin, the Scott, Shasta and Klamath River watersheds, and the Clear Lake watershed.

Story Date: September 5, 2024