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100 <br /> <br />5.9.2 DROUGHT <br />A drought is a gradual phenomenon that occurs over several dry years, depleting <br />reservoirs and groundwater basins without the expected annual recharge from <br />winter precipitation. While drought does not have any primary impacts in the Bay <br />Area, prolonged periods of drought can cause secondary impacts that can affect the <br />region, including: <br /> <br /> Reduced water supply for crops and livestock feed, impacting the economy <br />centered around the agriculture industry <br /> Increased wildfire hazard, including more fire starts and more prolonged <br />conflagrations fueled by excessively dry vegetation and reduced water supply <br />for firefighting purposes <br /> Subsidence due to a lowering water table <br /> May be correlated to high heat conditions. <br />Drought is not localized, but occurs simultaneously across the region, and may extend <br />statewide or across a larger expanse of western states. This has been the case in <br />California since 2013. While the drought exists in every county, the impacts of the <br />drought are locally unique, based on local water supply systems, soil conditions, and <br />the typical climate and vegetation land covering. The effects of drought are managed <br />in the Bay Area through the importation of water and the storage of water in <br />reservoirs. <br />The United States Drought Monitor is produced by the National Oceanic and <br />Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The <br />Monitor releases weekly maps of current drought conditions. NOAA also publishes <br />one year outlook maps for temperature and precipitation.9 The maps project <br />temperature and precipitation twelve months out – describing the conditions as likely <br />below, above, or average. <br /> <br />PAST OCCURANCES AND POTENTIAL FOR OCCURANCE: <br />In January 2014, the Governor declared a State of Emergency in California in response <br />to current drought conditions, which began in 2012. Thus far, 2015 has surpassed <br />1977 as the driest year on record in California. As of June 2015, statewide reservoirs <br />are at 18-67 percent of average and Sonoma County has declared a local Emergency <br />Proclamation.10 During 2015 and 2016 upon the direction and lead of EBMUD, San <br />Leandro enacted water rationing and promoted alternative measures to conserve <br />water. EBMUD also assigned a fee and fine schedule for those who did comply with <br />the mandatory ration order. EBMUD offered residents and businesses in San Leandro <br />financial assistance with the removal of landscape and replacement with drought <br />resistant plants. Figure 5-21 illustrates the severity of the drought in 2015. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />9 http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/multi_season/13_seasonal_outlooks/color/churchill.php <br />10 California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (2015) <br />139