Sacramento– Today, Assembly Republican Caucus Operations Chair, Devon J. Mathis (R-Porterville), issued the following statement in response to the Governor’s executive order authorizing the Department of Water Resources (DWR) to increase its water allocation to contracts under its jurisdiction:
“This should have been a full 100% allocation notice given our unprecedented rain and snowfall; however I’m thankful for the Governor ordering this commonsense increase in our water allocation,” said Mathis. “As the state grapples with excessive flooding, it’s reassuring to know that we’re not letting all of this water go to waste.”
“Our reoccurring droughts are the cause of poor management and foresight. The resulting decrease in water allocation hurts our state’s key agricultural industries, and irreparably hurts our ag workers and their families. Unless we address the lack of effective water infrastructure, these periods of drought and flood will remain the norm in California.”
Today, DWR announced an increase from 35% to 75% in allocations for state water contractors that provide water for 27 million Californians. The Administration also announced a modification in the drought proclamation made up of 81 provisions from April 2021 via executive order. The new executive order eliminates the 15% voluntary conservation target, 450 localized mandates, and the requirement to advance Water Shortage Contingency Plans for water agencies, but maintains the prioritization of fastracking groundwater project permits and storm water recycling due to the conditions of the Klamath Basin and the Colorado River.
“Could you imagine if we had all of the water infrastructure we needed in California to protect us from droughts and floods? That’s the State I want to live in.”
Mathis serves as Vice Chair of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife.
