The 2020 Water Year, which began on October 1, 2019, has produced significantly less precipitation and snowpack through April, 2020. 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 15%. 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. If drought conditions occur, the Department will convene a meeting of the Drought Task Force 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.

• U.S. Drought Monitor
• California State Drought Information
• Department of Water Resources Drought Information
• Association of California Water Agencies
• US Drought Portal
• University of California Drought Management
• California Department of Food and Agriculture- Drought Resources
• Water Conservation Throughout the Home

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. Help Butte County document impacts of the drought by filling out and submitting this Well Reporting Form online. Although we cannot solve individual well problems, information we gather will assist in our drought assessment efforts and understanding groundwater basin conditions.

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.

Drought Task Force Members

The Drought Task force is comprised of various Department Directors and others in the County.

Drought Task Force Seat	Member
Director, Department of Water & Resource Conservation-Chair	Paul Gosselin
Emergency Services Officer-Vice Chair	Cindi Dunsmoor
Chair, Butte County Water Commission	David Skinner
Deputy Chief Administrative Officer	Shari McCracken
Director, Department of Public Works	Dennis Schmidt
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	Darren Read
District Conservationist, Natural Resource Conservation Service	Dan Taverner
Director, Butte County Resource Conservation District	TBD

  

Reporting Waste