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. 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.
| 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 |