Schwarzenegger Declares Statewide Drought

Today in Sacramento, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is declaring a statewide drought after two years of less than average rainfall, low snowmelt runoff, and the largest court-ordered restrictions on water transfers in state history.

His office stated that an executive order would be issued Wednesday directing the state's response to unusually dry conditions that are harming water quality, damaging crops, and creating conditions for extreme fire danger across California.

This declaration is the first since Gov. Pete Wilson's in 1991.

According to AP News, the executive order directs the state Department of Water Resources to speed water transfers to areas with the worst shortages. It also tells state officials to help local water districts with conservation efforts and directs agencies to help farmers suffering losses from the drought.

In addition, the governor is naming two "water czars," one to coordinate conservation programs and the other to speed water transfers around the state.