California's Gov. Brown sounds the alarm on drought

[Luke Skywalker]

{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:

Get the news
Log In or Subscribe to skip

39 1 [h=6]Share This Story![/h]Let friends in your social network know what you are reading about

[h=4]California's Gov. Brown sounds the alarm on drought[/h]California's governor says drought will lead to forest fires and water shortages.

{# #}
[h=4]Sent![/h]A link has been sent to your friend's email address.



[h=4]Posted![/h]A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.



[h=6]Join the Nation's Conversation[/h]To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs

[h=2]UP NEXT[/h][h=2]03[/h]


California Gov. Jerry Brown, in an interview with USA TODAY reporter Doyle Rice, warned Thursday that the “unprecedented” drought parching his state will lead to a summer of forest fires and potential water shortages. USA TODAY


California Gov. Jerry Brown, center, answers a question concerning the executive order he signed that imposes mandatory water restrictions in Echo Summit, Calif., on April 1. Brown stands with Mark Cowin, left, director of the California Department of Water Resources, and Frank Gehrke, chief of the California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program for the DWR.(Photo: Rich Pedroncelli, AP)


California Gov. Jerry Brown warned Thursday that the drought parching his state will lead to a summer of forest fires and potential water shortages.
In an interview with USA TODAY, Brown called the drought "unprecedented in recorded history" and is evidence of a changing climate.
His comments came a week after Brown called for the state's first mandatory water restrictions. He ordered the cutbacks because of a paltry snowpack in the Sierra, which is one of the state's primary sources of water.
"We're in for tough times," Brown said.
He admitted it might take a while for the enormity of the drought to sink in for many of his state's 38 million residents. "There's been fairly inadequate conservation so far," he said.
He expects Californians to do what's required to deal with the drought. He hopes the drought will bring Californians together, enabling them to understand how to use less water.
"We're trying to use the water in the wisest way possible," Brown said.
Brown said this drought is worse than the one during his first term as governor in the 1970s, because temperatures are higher and the lack of water (rain and snow) is more pronounced.
He said there will be more droughts and climate disruptions because of man-made global warming from the burning of fossil fuels.
But California is the leader in the Western Hemisphere when it comes to climate change response, he said.
The drought shows no signs of easing this week and has actually gotten slightly worse, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor's weekly summary.
More than 44% of California is in "exceptional" drought — the worst level of drought. That's the highest percentage of exceptional drought the state has seen this year. It is the highest percentage of any U.S. state.
All of California, except a tiny corner of San Bernardino County, suffers some degree of drought, according to the drought report.
After some rain and snow in Northern California this week, the state is likely to remain warmer and drier than average the next two weeks, according to the Climate Prediction Center.
Contributing: Robert Hopwood, The Desert Sun
0) { %> 0) { %>
0) { %>




Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed