Letter to Governor Newsom - Request to Rescind Emergency Drought Proclamation in Siskiyou County
The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors send Governor Newsom a letter requesting that he immediately rescind the drought proclamation in Siskiyou County.
Subject: Request to Rescind Emergency Drought Proclamation in Siskiyou County
Dear Governor Newsom:
Siskiyou County is writing this letter to request that you immediately rescind your May 10, 2021, Emergency Drought Proclamation for Siskiyou County. During the 2022/2023 winter season and 2023 spring season, we have witnessed abundant precipitation and snowpack throughout the County. This onslaught in precipitation and snowpack has greatly improved the drought conditions throughout Siskiyou County and has proven that the County must have the emergency drought proclamation removed.
As of May, the Sierra snowpack measured 237% above average, the Scott River Basin measured 168% of average snowpack, and as of April 1, the Shasta River Basin measured 162% of average snowpack. In addition, as of late April the Klamath Basin, which is critical for water supply to the Tulelake area, measured at 199% of the average snowpack.
The Koppen Climate, one of the most widely used climate classifications systems, classifies Siskiyou County as Csa ( Hot-summer Mediterranean) and Csb ( Warm-summer Mediterranean), meaning these areas generally experience warm to hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. During the recent drought cycle that California endured, Siskiyou County was met with unprecedented challenges of changes in our climate, causing our weather to become increasingly variable, extreme, and unpredictable. We understand that the implications are clear for our entire state; we must plan for varying weather patterns including future drought cycles, increasingly heavy rains, and wet years. The State must continue to look for ways to capture more of our rain and snow runoff in wet seasons and pursue opportunities to improve the management of our water resources throughout the State and Siskiyou. Siskiyou County, and its water users, are active in this regard, specifically through actions to better utilize water throughout the County and through the development and implementation of the Groundwater Sustainability Plans for the Shasta Valley, Scott Valley, Butte Valley, and Tulelake groundwater basins.
While we are always mindful of drought conditions, when circumstances warrant, the County should not be under an emergency drought proclamation. This means that you should follow suit as you have done for many other counties throughout the State, and remove Siskiyou County from the emergency drought proclamation.
Sincerely,
Ed Valenzuela, Chair
Board of Supervisors
