Statewide Drought Briefing Set for Feb. 14 in Sacramento

SACRAMENTO, CA--(Marketwired - Feb 7, 2014) -  Local, state and federal water officials will provide the latest on California's statewide drought and emerging impacts at a half-day briefing set for Friday, Feb. 14 in Sacramento. The event will be from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Crest Theater, 1013 K Street in downtown Sacramento. (Program begins at 9; registration begins at 8:30.)

The briefing takes place as the state's water managers mobilize to respond to the most severe drought conditions in modern times. Though a band of storms is currently bringing some precipitation to Northern California, state officials say it is not likely to provide significant relief. Key state reservoirs, now at record-shattering low levels, have little chance of recovering to normal levels this spring.

In the weeks since Gov. Jerry Brown declared a statewide drought emergency on Jan. 17, state and federal officials have launched a suite of unprecedented actions, including cutting State Water Project allocations to zero for the first time in the project's history.

Briefing topics will include:

• Overview of California's Drought Conditions
• A Look at Local Impacts Around the State
• Managing the Drought Crisis on the Ground
• The Ripple Effect
• Reaching the California Consumer

WHAT: 2014 Drought Briefing -- Impacts and Actions: What You Need to Know
WHEN: Friday, February 14, 2014, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Program begins at 9; registration begins at 8:30.)
WHERE: Crest Theater, 1013 K Street, Sacramento
A live webcast also will be available. Please register here to receive information.
INTENDED AUDIENCE: Media, local elected officials, water managers, legislative staff, statewide business / agricultural leaders.

The event is sponsored by the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), California Department of Water Resources, California State Association of Counties (CSAC), League of California Cities, California Farm Water Coalition, California Farm Bureau Federation, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and others.

ACWA is a statewide association of public agencies whose 430 members are responsible for about 90% of the water delivered in California. For more information, visit www.acwa.com.