Californians have reduced water use by 26.3 percent in the six months since emergency conservation regulations took effect in June, continuing to meet Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.’s 25 percent mandate despite a decline in the statewide water-savings rate for the last two months.

In November, when outdoor water use dramatically drops, the statewide conservation rate was 20.3 percent, down from 22.3 percent in October.

In contrast, average statewide water use declined from 87 gallons per person per day in October to 75 in November – the lowest observed since the Water Board’s emergency regulation went into effect.

“We expected the percentage drop in the cooler fall and winter months when we use less water in general so we are still on track,” said Felicia Marcus, chair of the State Water Resources Control Board. “The fact that per person water use dropped to 75 gallons per person per day on average is proof that Californians are clearly thinking twice before turning on the tap. As welcome as recent rain and snow are, we’ve been in such a deep drought that we won’t know until spring whether we can let up on conservation.”

In November 2015, the Governor issued an additional Executive Order directing the State Water Board to extend and revise the emergency water conservation regulations based on conditions through January.

Out for public review is a staff-proposed framework for the next iteration of the drought emergency water conservation regulation, which is intended to replace the current regulations, set to expire in the middle of next month.

Following public review of the framework, staff will release a draft updated emergency regulation for public comment in mid-January. State Water Board consideration of an extended emergency regulation is anticipated Feb. 2.

Small water supplier reporting status

Small water suppliers (those with 3,000 or fewer customers) were required to report water use by Dec. 15, and to date about half of these small water suppliers have submitted reports.

Of those reporting, 1,232 small water suppliers (80 percent) are in compliance with the emergency regulation; 209 suppliers (13 percent) are not in compliance; and compliance for 109 suppliers (7 percent) could not be assessed.

November conservation data

– For June through November, the cumulative statewide reduction was 26.3 percent, compared with the same months in 2013. That equates to over 1 million  acre-feet, putting the state more than 80 percent of the way to meeting the 1.2 million acre-feet savings goal to be achieved by February 2016.
– Statewide water savings for November 2015 was 20.3 percent (94,236 acre feet or 30.7 billion gallons), a decrease from October 2015’s 22.3 percent savings. See fact sheet here.
– Statewide average R-GPCD for November 2015 was 75 gallons, a significant decrease from the 87 residential gallons per capita per day reported for October.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Friends of the Middletown Library Board is seeking to fill a vacancy.

Applications can be picked up at the library, 21256 Washington St.

Qualifications include being – or becoming – a member of the Friends of Middletown Library; attending monthly board meetings held on the third Tuesday of each month at 4:30 p.m.; and have an interest in helping with book sales and other fund-raising activities.

Bring to a completed application to the library or mail to the Friends of Middletown Library, P.O. Box 57, Middletown, CA 95461, and plan to attend the next meeting on Jan. 19 at 4:30 p.m.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Citizens Caring For Clearlake, a volunteer organization dedicated to cleaning up litter and illegal dump sites, is hosting “Pristine in '16,” on Monday, Jan. 25.

The event will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.

A musical skit entitled “Litterbug meets Mr. Clean” will be performed by young people, and brief talks will be given by several Clearlake city officials and a homeless person who has helped with the clean ups.

Free refreshments will be served.

CC4C is hoping to help citizens adopt areas in their neighborhoods to clean and maintain.

Tax deductible-donations are welcome and may be sent to NCO, 413 N. State St., Ukiah, CA 95482 with CC4C in memo line. Donations are spent mainly for dump fees.

For more information call Barbara Christwitz at 707-995-0940.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – United Policyholders will hold a “Road to Recovery” workshop for Valley fire survivors on Thursday, Jan. 21.

The workshop will take place beginning at 6 p.m. in the multipurpose room/cafeteria of Middletown High School, 15846 Wardlaw St.

Fire survivors will learn how to settle the contents portion of insurance claims, and get strategies for completing your home inventory and understanding depreciation.

Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions during a question and answer session.

United Policyholders is a nonprofit information resource and a voice for insurance consumers in all 50 states. 

The group offers “the straight scoop on insurance matters” and don't accept financial support from insurance companies. It does not give legal advice or endorse or warrant any of its sponsors.

For more information about the Lake County workshop, call 800-286-5631, visit www.uphelp.org/lakecounty or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Visit www.uphelp.org for free tips, information and resources or to make a tax-deductible donation to support our work. 

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clear Lake/Callayomi Masonic Lodge No. 183, Free and Accepted Masons, will host the “best breakfast in Lake County” on Sunday, Jan. 17.

The lodge serves a full, sit-down breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on the third Sunday of each month at the Masonic Center, located at 7100 South Center Drive in Clearlake.

Choose your breakfast from a large menu including eggs (any style), omelets, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, hot cakes, breakfast meat, toast, juice and coffee.

The cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under age 6 may eat for free and are served a special “kids” breakfast.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Green Party of Lake County will hold its next meeting on Sunday, Jan. 17.

The group will meet from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the meeting room at Round Table Pizza, 821 11th St. in Lakeport.

Speakers will be Norm Longoria and Joan Moss, candidates for the Fifth District seat on the Lake County Board of Supervisors.

The movie "Fix It" will be shown after the speakers.

Seven Lake County Green Party council positions are open. Any registered Green Party member can file a declaration with the Lake County Registrar of Voters and collect 10 signatures from Green Party members to be eligible for the council.

For more information, write This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .