News
An order for an emergency water curtailment for water users in the Sacramento-San Joaquin (Delta) Watershed was unanimously voted on 3 August 2021 by the California State Water Resources Control Board.
Governor Gavin Newsom had declared a drought emergency for most counties in the state in early July, responding to the state’s rising temperatures. According to the California Farm Water Coalition, nearly 2 million acres of irrigated farmland in California have seen their water allocation cut significantly. Millions more acres have had their water restricted by at least 25%.
The new order means that some farmers will have to stop taking water out of major rivers and streams because of a severe drought that is rapidly depleting the California reservoirs. Without this action, the drinking water supply for 25 million Californians and the irrigation supply for over 3 million acres of farmland could be at significant risk should drought continue into next year.
According to Morning Star, this water curtailment could impact the California tonnage and more generally an economic impact on California food production, international agricultural markets, and rural immigrant communities. More information in this VIDEO.
More background information in the California Water Boards release HERE
Sources: Morning Star, California Farm Water Coalition, California Waterboards
