The 2021 Water Year, which began on October 1, 2020, has produced significantly less precipitation and snowpack through April, 2021. It’s looking to be a critically dry year. If conditions do not improve, there may be drought related impacts that could affect residents, businesses and the environment. As dry conditions continue throughout California and Butte County, conservation of water for all purposes is increasingly important. The State Water Project allocation is currently 5% and irrigation districts in the county have received a 50% cut-back to their water supplies from the Feather River. In 2004, the Butte County Board of Supervisors adopted the Drought Preparedness and Mitigation Plan through Resolution 04-200. A major element of the Drought Preparedness and Mitigation Plan was the creation of the Drought Task Force. Through the Drought Task Force, the Board of Supervisors receives recommendations on current conditions and actions that the county should take. The Department will convene the first meeting of the Drought Task Force in 2021 on May 18 at 2 pm to evaluate drought conditions in Butte County.
Tracking the Drought
A number of agencies are tracking the drought, water conditions, impacts, and available resources to help municipalities, households, and farmers.
Private Well Owners
In recent years, a number of household wells, especially in the Durham area and foothills, have ‘gone dry’ meaning groundwater levels are falling below the depth of the pump or bottom of the well. There is a form available for well owners who experience water supply shortage problems. Individuals are encouraged to report it to DWR’s online Household Water Supply Shortage Reporting System. This will help inform state and local agencies on water shortage impacts to households served by wells, and will help identify the need for local, state, or federal assistance. Individuals interested in financial assistance will be directed to appropriate resources.
To Report a Water Supply Shortage: Go to the MyDryWaterSupply webpage, and click the “Submit Report” button. For more information, email sgmps@water.ca.gov. The data will be made available on a mapping application here: https://sgma.water.ca.gov/webgis/?appid=SGMADataViewer#currentconditions.
Please also view the private well owner page HERE.
Additional permit related information from the Environmental Health Division of Butte County Public Health for private well owners can be found HERE.
Butte County Drought Response
Drought Preparedness Plan
The Butte County Board of Supervisors adopted the Butte County Drought Preparedness and Mitigation Plan (Drought Plan) to protect the County from the effects of a drought and prepare appropriate responses.
Drought Task Force
The County’s Drought Plan establishes the Drought Task Force (DTF) to monitor hydrologic conditions throughout the water year and report the findings to the Water Commission and the Board of Supervisors annually in non-drought situations and biannually, quarterly, or monthly as a drought progresses.
Proclamation of local drought emergency adopted by the Butte County Board of Supervisors July 20, 2021
Drought Task Force Members
The Drought Task force is comprised of various Department Directors and others in the County.
| Acting Director, Department of Water & Resource Conservation-Chair
|
Christina Buck
|
| Emergency Services Officer-Vice Chair
|
Cindi Dunsmoor
|
| Chair, Butte County Water Commission
|
David Skinner
|
| Deputy Chief Administrative Officer
|
Meegan Jesse
|
| Director, Department of Public Works
|
Josh Pack
|
| Director, Division of Environmental Health
|
Elaine McSpadden
|
| Commissioner, Department of Agriculture
|
Louie Mendoza
|
| Director, UC Cooperative Extension/County Farm Advisor
|
Luis Espino
|
| California Department of Forestry/Butte County Fire
|
John Messina
|
| District Conservationist, Natural Resource Conservation Service
|
Dan Taverner
|
| Director, Butte County Resource Conservation District
|
Thad Walker
|
Meetings
Illegal Water Hauling or Water Diversions
Enforcement falls to the State Water Resources Control Board.
Please see these flyers or reach out to the following contacts:
Frequently Asked Questions: Water hauling and cannabis cultivation
Illegal Water Hauling
Ms. Erin Mustain, P.E.
Cannabis Cultivation Regulatory & Enforcement Unit
Erin.Mustain@waterboards.ca.gov
(916) 445-9379
Mr. Taro Murano
Water Rights Enforcement
Taro.Murano@waterboards.ca.gov
(916) 341-5399
www.waterboards.ca.gov/waterrights
Ms. Donna Cobb – Interior
(Lassen, Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and eastern Trinity counties)
Donna.Cobb@wildlife.ca.gov
(530) 225-2314
Mr. Gordon Leppig – Coastal
(Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino, and western Trinity counties)
Gordon.Leppig@wildlife.ca.gov
(707) 441-2062
https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/LSA