Drought Information for California S Native Americans

Drought Information for California’s Native Americans

Where do I begin? There are many sources of drought information for California Indians. Specialists with your Tribal, city & county governments can help you evaluate potential threats from the 2014 drought to your personal or municipal water supply. Departments within these governments are actively involved in drought mitigation planning. They usually maintain websites with detailed information & guidance. If your Tribal or personal water system has previously run dry or is at risk of running dry this year, then your Tribal Government, Indian Health Service (IHS), or local contractors may be able to help you modify the system. In addition, a number of State & Federal agencies have programs & websites directly related to the drought (see attached list).

What can I do right away? Find out if your domestic water supply is at risk this year. If it is, then consider your options. Drought preparedness & response begins with individuals & families. Listed below are some effective, proactive ideas for reducing drought impacts to at-risk families:  Water conservation o Fix leaks, install water-saver faucets & showerheads & reduce showering times o Lower toilet tank capacities, consider replacing conventional toilets with composting or incinerating types, or flush less often (“if it’s yellow let it mellow”) o Reduce garden & lawn sizes; adopt mulching practices; drip irrigate the root zone at night instead of spray irrigating during the day; consider xeriscaping your yard o Re-use gray water on outdoor ornamental plants if legal to do so in your jurisdiction o Wash the windows & lights instead of the entire vehicle  Preparedness o Know how to make untreated water potable (suitable for drinking & cooking) . Filtering @ <1.0 micron or boiling for 10 minutes removes pathogens like giardia . Chemically treating with chlorine or iodine is effective, but can affect taste o If you’re on a well, know how to monitor its level & how to quickly turn off your water pump & water heater if the well goes dry o If your well has previously gone dry, consider asking your Tribal Government, or IHS or a local professional to help you evaluate your options o Store potable water & keep containers on-hand for basic sanitation such as washing dishes & taking sponge baths; consider a camping-style solar shower as backup o Make arrangements now with neighbors, friends & family members who have reliable water supplies so you’ll have an alternate place to shower, do laundry & get potable water for your family, pets & livestock o If you have large numbers of livestock, analyze your water situation & evaluate various options such as hauling water, off-site pasturing, boarding/leasing, culling or selling  Coordinate with others who are facing these same challenges

Emergency sources of potable water: (Listed in order of priority)  Personal emergency water supplies  Neighbors, friends, family or community sources  Tribal Office of Emergency Services (OES) (if you’re a Tribal member)  Closest County OES, American Red Cross or IHS distribution point STATE & FEDERAL DROUGHT-RELATED WEBSITES

State of California California’s Drought Information Clearinghouse: Drought.CA.Gov Governor’s Proclamation of Drought Emergency State’s Water Conservation Campaign: Save our Water Local Government Clearinghouse and Toolkit California Department of Food & Agriculture Drought Information California Department of Water Resources Current Water Conditions California Data Exchange Center: Snow Pack/Water Levels California State Water Resources Control Board, Water Rights: Drought Info & Actions California Natural Resources Agency: Drought Info & Actions California Department of Public Health, Drinking Water: CDPH Drinking Water Program California State Water Project: Information

Federal Government Federal Drought Information: U.S. Drought Portal Federal Programs Matrix: Latest Reports & Releases – Drought.CA.Gov Federal Emergency Management Agency: Drought Information Federal Environmental Protection Agency: Drought Information Indian Health Service: 2014 California Drought Information USDA Drought Designations by County CA County Designations USDA Disaster & Drought Assistance Information USDA Programs Small Business Administration Disaster Support: www.sba.gov/disaster