Why won’t Gavin Newsom declare a drought? California recall puts him in tough spot
Gov. Gavin Newsom stood on a boat ramp at Lake Oroville on Tuesday — a boat ramp that couldn’t reach the water because the reservoir was nearly 60% empty — and acknowledged what many Californians already know. But Newsom, who was in Oroville to sign a bill appropriating $536 million in wildfire-prevention funds, said he isn’t ready to declare an official drought emergency, as his predecessor did six years ago. Instead, he promised he can manage the situation without resorting to an emergency declaration, which could help his administration clamp down on water use.
Related articles:
- Courthouse News Service: Federal forecast finds no relief in sight for drought-stricken west
- Los Angeles Times: Op-Ed: Yes, California is in a drought — even if officials aren’t saying it out loud
- ABC7: Here’s how far Sonoma County is going to fight the drought
- News10: Drought Emergency: Critically low snowpack and water levels following dry winter
- Porterville Recorder: Members of Congress call Gov. to declare state of emergency over drought
