Dry Year Program (1978)

The importance of water was emphasized to all Californians during the 1975-76 water year. A high pressure system persisted off the West Coast for months, preventing Pacific storms from depositing moisture on major areas of the State. As a consequence, the 1975-76 period turned out to be the third driest water year in recorded State history, being surpassed only by the droughts of 1923-24 and 1930-31.

With most of the State•s surface reservoirs substantial l y depleted and meager prospects for normal runoff, Governor Brown – on the last day of 1976 – announced an eight-point drought emergency program. In effect, the emergency program marshaled the resources and personnel of all state agencies in an effort to ease, as much as possible, the social and economic impact on Californians if the drought should continue for a second year . As it developed, 1976-77 became the driest year of record, amply justifying the Governor’s foresight.

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) role in the emergency program was to develop a program of water conservation in cooperation with the University of California; to determine the quantity of water which could be expected in critically dry areas; and to protect the priority of uses of that limited supply in accordance with the State’s water rights law. This was particularly important in the case of agriculture, the State’s No. 1 industry. It appeared likely that the available supply of water would not meet the needs of farms and orchards for the full growing season or meet the full demand of municipal and industrial users and instream needs.

The State Board was concerned that water users would inadvertently interfere with the water rights of others unless forewarned of the extent of availability of water to them. In addition, the warnings would be conducive to early implementation of conservation measures.

The State Board established the Dry Year Program as a function within its Division of Water Rights ( Division) . This program, designed to protect and enforce the priorities of users of surface water had four objectives :

1. To identify critical drought-impacted areas in Northern and Central
California.
2. To provide information on water conservation and shortage to diverters
in these areas.
3. To assure that the limited water supply available would be used in accordance with established rights.
4. To take enforcement action against violations of permit and license conditions, illegal diversions and waste or unreasonable use of water.