Drought Information
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Drought Regulations | Drought Information and Resources | Frequently Asked Questions | Drought Initiatives and Resources | Report Water Waste | Drought and Urban Water Conservation Symposium | Contact Information
Drought information and portals for resources have been provided to assist local agencies, individuals and interested parties to stay informed on issues related to the drought and water conservation.
Drought Regulations

County building using desert landscaping
The Governor has issued an Executive Order directing the State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Water Resources and the California Energy Commission to work together with other agencies to address the severe drought.
- Executive Order B-29-15 – Gov. Jerry Brown’s April 1, 2015 Executive Order calling for 25% water use reductions and charging state agencies with related responsibilities and actions. Gov. Brown directed the State Water Board to implement mandatory water reductions in urban areas to reduce potable urban water usage by 25 percent statewide. On May 5, 2015, the State Water Board adopted an emergency conservation regulation in accordance with the Governor's directive. The provisions of the emergency regulation went into effect on May 18, 2015.
- Adopted Emergency Conservation Resolution and Regulation
- Emergency Conservation Regulation Information – Information on State Water Board’s emergency conservation regulation adopted in accordance with B-29-15.
Drought Information and Resources
Drought Programs
The following is list of drought program pages by various agencies, including state agencies charged with specific drought-related actions and responsibilities under Executive Order B-29-15.
- State Water Board Drought Year Water Actions – State Water Resources Control Board's Drought Information and news.
- California Drought – California State Drought Information and Resources page; includes weekly drought briefs, partner links, news, resource links.
- California Department of Water Resources (DWR) Drought Information – Working with other agencies and the public to conserve, manage, develop, and sustain California's watersheds, water resources, and management systems.
- Drought Clearinghouse – Governor's Office of Planning and Research – Drought information for local agencies, individuals, well drillers and additional resources.
- US Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) Drought Response Program – Established to provide assistance to water users for drought contingency planning, including consideration of climate change information and to take actions that will build long-term resiliency to drought.
- Water Conservation Field Services Program (lower Colorado River Region)
- California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Drought Information – Under Gov. Brown’s Executive Order B-29-15, PUC is charged with drought response actions with respect to investor-owned utilities providing water services.
- California Building Standards Commission (CBSC) CALGreen – California Green Building Standards Code information

Desert landscaping used in common areas of development.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions for the State Water Resources Control Board water conservation programs:
- SWRCB Water Conservation Portal FAQ
- SWRCB Emergency Regulations Fact Sheet
- SWRCB Press Release on Emergency Regulation (May 5, 2015)
- SWRCB Drinking Water State Revolving Fund FAQ
Drought Initiatives and Resources

Storm water retention basin for industrial complex
- DWR Turf Replacement Initiative – Under Gov. Brown's Executive Order B-29-15, DWR is charged with leading a statewide initiative, in partnership with local agencies, to collectively replace 50 million square feet of lawns and ornamental turf with drought tolerant landscapes. [DWR Turf Replacement Flyer]
- SWRCB Office of Sustainable Solutions – The office was created to promote permanent and sustainable drinking water and wastewater treatment solutions, particularly for small disadvantaged communities. Program page lists drought funding and technical assistance resources and bimonthly newsletters available in English and Spanish.
- July/August 2015 Newsletter: [English] [Spanish]
- SWRCB Proposition 1 Funding Program: Proposition 1 (Assembly Bill 1471, Rendon) authorized $7.545 billion in general obligation bonds for water projects including surface and groundwater storage, ecosystem and watershed protection and restoration, and drinking water protection. [Proposition 1 Funding Summary]
- SWRCB CAA Interim Emergency Drinking Water Program – SWRCB approved $19 million in funding from the Cleanup and Abatement Account to meet interim emergency drinking water needs for those communities with a contaminated water supply or that suffer drought related water outages or threatened emergencies.
- Funding Fact Sheet: [English] [Spanish]
- SWRCB Division of Financial Assistance Contacts
- SWRCB Drinking Water State Revolving Fund – Eligible applicants include community water systems and non-profit, non-community water systems.
- CV Water Counts – Coachella Valley water suppliers’ collaborative initiative identifies local conservation incentives and tips.
Report Water Waste

Water Wise information for water conservations
The Emergency Conservation Regulation identifies water use practices that are prohibited to everyone, and requirements for water suppliers and businesses. To identify water waste, please refer to these prohibitions and requirements, or visit the State Water Board’s Emergency Conservation Regulation page.
To report water waste by individuals, businesses or local municipalities, contact the water supplier for the service area of the water waste location.
- Coachella Valley Water Providers Map – Coachella Valley water supplier map.
- Association of California Water Agencies map – Provides headquarters locations for some water districts.
- State Water Board Drinking Water Supply Service Area Lookup Tool – Identifies drinking water supply service areas service areas for water.
- Save Our Water – Find your Water Supplier - lists local Water Agencies by county.
To report wasteful practices at State facilities, please use the Department of General Services' online reporting system.
Drought and Urban Water Conservation Symposium
The Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board held a public Drought and Urban Water Conservation Symposium on Friday, June 26, 2015. The purpose of this event was to provide an opportunity for the State Water Resources Control Board and drought-affected agencies and organizations to share information, perspectives and strategies being implemented to address the Governor’s mandate for statewide reduction in potable urban water use. A total of 73 participants attended the symposium representing twenty seven different entities (state, federal, local and tribal nations). Documents and presentations from this event are provided below.
Documents
- Public Notice – Notice of Drought and Urban Water Conservation Symposium, June 26, 2015
- Agenda handout – Contains the agenda, speaker bios and presentation information.
- Survey Questions – The survey form was developed to provide feedback on the event and this topic.
- Drought Q&A – Summary of answers provided in response to questions submitted during the event Q&A and panel sessions, as well as on comment cards submitted after the event.

Desert landscaping for industrial complex
Presentations
- State Water Resources Control Board – Financial Assistance during Drought and Beyond
- Coachella Valley Water District – How CVWD is working to achieve 36% conservation mandate
- Indio Water Authority – IWA Water Conservation Program
- Riverside County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Presentation
- Riverside County Executive Office Presentation
- Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center – MCAGCC Water Conservation: Keep Calm and Conserve

Residential tract using desert landscaping for storm water retention basin.
Contact Information
View the State Water Resources Control Board Drought portal for latest information on the drought and water conservation.
For questions related to the drought for our Regional Water Board programs, please visit our Programs page to identify which program is related to the issue and contact the appropriate program manager by referring to our phone list.