California Governor Schwarzenegger Declares State of Emergency in Kings County due to Drought Conditions

06/23/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today declared a State of Emergency in Kings County due to drought conditions. The Kings County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution requesting emergency status, citing low water tables, limited precipitation and reporting at least $1.2 million in crop damages due to drought conditions. On May 9, 2007, Kings County received a drought designation from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

"I am directing key state agencies to help provide immediate assistance to water agencies in Kings County under the State Natural Disaster Assistance Act to drill new water wells or modify existing wells as needed, and provide other assistance to local governments under the California Disaster Assistance Act," said Governor Schwarzenegger.

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"The situation in Kings County shows how precarious California's water infrastructure is and underscores the need for a comprehensive plan for conveyance, storage and conservation. The decreasing Sierra Nevada snow pack and declining conditions in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, combined with our rising population, will make it increasingly more difficult to maintain adequate water supplies in California. We need a comprehensive plan for California’s water future. That plan must include conservation and water-use efficiency measures, flood control, a new conveyance system and additional storage capacity – both surface storage and groundwater."

The Governor's Water Infrastructure Plan includes $5.9 billion in water bonds to build new water storage, alternative conveyance to protect the Delta, and funding for local water conservation and efficiency programs.

Below is the full text of the Governor's proclamation:

A PROCLAMATION

OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY

WHEREAS there has been extremely low precipitation in the form of rain and snow in Kings County, from the fall of 2006 and continuing to the present time; and

WHEREAS as a result of this extremely low precipitation, there has been, and will continue to be, very little runoff from the mountains, resulting in water shortages including an extremely low amount of local surface water irrigation supplies for farmers throughout Kings County; and

WHEREAS local farmers and local suppliers of irrigation water have already reported lowered water tables in irrigation wells throughout Kings County as a result of the drought condition; and

WHEREAS Kings County reports at least $1.2 million in crop damages as a result of the current and continuing drought condition; and

WHEREAS the State of California requested, and Kings County was granted, a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) drought designation; and

WHEREAS on June 19, 2007, Kings County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution declaring a local state of emergency, and

WHEREAS on June 19, 2007, Kings County requested that I declare a state of emergency due to the drought condition; and

WHEREAS the circumstances of this drought condition, by reason of their magnitude, are beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment and facilities of any single county, city and county, or city and require the combined forces of a mutual aid region or regions to combat; and

WHEREAS under the provision of section 8558(b) of the California Government Code, I find that conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property exist within Kings County caused by the current and continuing drought condition; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I, ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER, Governor of the State

of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, section 8625 of the California Government Code, HEREBY PROCLAIM A STATE OF EMERGENCY to exist within Kings County.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that all agencies of the state government utilize and employ state personnel, equipment and facilities for the performance of any and all activities consistent with the direction of my Office of Emergency Services (OES) and the State Emergency Plan, and that OES provide local government assistance under the authority of the California Disaster Assistance Act.

I FURTHER DIRECT THAT:

1. The Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) shall provide disaster assistance, under the authority of the State Natural Disaster Assistance Act, to appropriate water districts to drill water wells or modify existing wells to mitigate the drought condition in Kings County; and

2. Key state governmental agencies, including but not limited to OES, the Department of Water Resources, the Department of Health Services, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency shall provide technical and administrative assistance to state and local governments and develop an overall strategy to address immediate water shortages.

I FURTHER DIRECT as soon as hereafter possible, this proclamation be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this proclamation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of California to be affixed this 23rd day of June 2007.

______________________________

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER

Governor of California

ATTEST:

_______________________________

DEBRA BOWEN

Secretary of State

Source: California Governor