Colusa officials will be able to water the lawn in the parks this summer but not the lawn at City Hall.
Colusa officials have also asked all residents to voluntarily curtail watering their own lawns more than a few days a week and to avoid watering during the heat of the day.
Anticipating the state emergency water conservation regulations imposed by the California Department of Water Resources, the Colusa City Council on May 17 activated Stage 2 water conservation measures outlined in the City of Colusa Drought Response Plan.
“The state, in the next two to three years, is planning on coming out with a lot of new water restrictions in California that we will have to adhere to over time,” City Manager Jesse Cain said.
The California Department of Water Resources Control Board adopted emergency water conservation regulations at the end of May after Californians failed to voluntarily reduce water consumption amid one of the worst droughts in history.
The board voted unanimously to implement a statewide ban on watering non-functional turf in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors, as well as adopting regulations requiring local agencies to implement water use restrictions amid the possibility that water supplies may be up to 20 percent lower than normal, due to extreme weather.
“California is facing a drought crisis and every local water agency and Californian needs to step up on conservation efforts,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said, in a news release. “I am hopeful the measures enacted by the State Water Board will lead to a reduction of water use across the state. These conservation measures are increasingly important as we enter the summer months. I’m asking all Californians to step up, because every single drop counts.”
Cain said Colusa is currently seeking proposals to update the city’s water master plan and address long-term drought in the future. Meanwhile, Cain has updated the City of Colusa Drought Response Plan to six stages instead of four.
While current groundwater levels in the Colusa basin are good, Cain ordered the Level 2 response, due to California snowpack and lake levels being the lowest in seven years.
Level 2 or “Water Warning” calls for the city to heighten the public’s awareness of water conditions, while maintaining the integrity of the city’s water supply system.
In addition to a voluntary reduction in outdoor water use, the city has asked residents to make efficient use of indoor water.
The city will also clean and flush Colusa’s groundwater wells to maintain them in efficient conditions, according to the plan. Leaks will be repaired within 72 hours of detection, and the city will minimize street cleaning and hydrant flushing.
Should Colusa reach Level 3 “Water Warning,” heightened water restriction measures would remain largely voluntary.
Level 4 or “Water Threat” would be called if the static water elevation is 75 feet of normal and would prohibit general outdoor water use (washing cars, refilling pools) and mandatory reduction in watering lawns to only one day per week, the drought plan states.
Level 5 or “Water Emergency 1” and Level 6 or “Water Emergency 2” would call for a mandatory reduction in water usage to 50 percent in peak hours and a reduction in overall water usage by 25 percent.
In either stage of a water emergency, the city and Colusa Industrial Properties would implement a water interite to bring on an additional well to supplement city water supplies.
A water emergency, although not likely in the Colusa Subbasin, would also call for the city to seek an emergency water supply from the state or federal government.
A Level 6 water emergency would only occur if the state water elevation is 85 to 90 feet below normal, Cain said. ■