Two valley cities focus on the drought.
One wants residents to conserve water.
The other is asking the president for help.
The city of Clovis wants the president to declare a State of Emergency due to the severe drought in California.
Visalia is looking for ways to reduce water use before the state imposes restrictions.
The Visalia city council began the discussion Monday night of how the city and it's residents can cut back more than they already do.
"We've had a long history of conserving water," Kim Loeb said. He's Visalia's Natural Resource Conservation Manager.
Visalia mayor Steve Nelson says the city has operated under a drought ordinance for the past ten years.
But California is looking at one of the worst droughts in more than a decade. And the city plans to ask residents for voluntary reductions.
"We now allow water of landscaping three days a week. We may reduce that to two days a week," Mayor Nelson said.
The city is considering cutting back the water at parks and asking schools to water landscaping less.
Visalia resident Donna McDonald supports the voluntary conservation measures.
"And we're not going to be able to take showers pretty soon if we don't conserve water right now. What are we going to do down the road when we don't have any drinking water," McDonald said.
California's snow pack is only a fraction of what it normally is this time of year.
Governor Brown has asked for a voluntary cutback of 20-percent less water usage.
But the state has ordered emergency cutbacks.
The city of Clovis wants President Obama and the federal government to help.
And the council voted unanimously to ask the president to declare a state of emergency.
"It's basically to start setting the table for future FEMA monies that could be available to help some of the disadvantaged communities, some of the people that could be most impacted by the water shortage," said Luke Serpa, the Public Utilities Director for Clovis.
The city of Visalia will take up the issue of stronger water conservation efforts in two weeks, after they consider the options they heard at Monday's meeting.
One wants residents to conserve water.
The other is asking the president for help.
The city of Clovis wants the president to declare a State of Emergency due to the severe drought in California.
Visalia is looking for ways to reduce water use before the state imposes restrictions.
The Visalia city council began the discussion Monday night of how the city and it's residents can cut back more than they already do.
"We've had a long history of conserving water," Kim Loeb said. He's Visalia's Natural Resource Conservation Manager.
Visalia mayor Steve Nelson says the city has operated under a drought ordinance for the past ten years.
But California is looking at one of the worst droughts in more than a decade. And the city plans to ask residents for voluntary reductions.
"We now allow water of landscaping three days a week. We may reduce that to two days a week," Mayor Nelson said.
The city is considering cutting back the water at parks and asking schools to water landscaping less.
Visalia resident Donna McDonald supports the voluntary conservation measures.
"And we're not going to be able to take showers pretty soon if we don't conserve water right now. What are we going to do down the road when we don't have any drinking water," McDonald said.
California's snow pack is only a fraction of what it normally is this time of year.
Governor Brown has asked for a voluntary cutback of 20-percent less water usage.
But the state has ordered emergency cutbacks.
The city of Clovis wants President Obama and the federal government to help.
And the council voted unanimously to ask the president to declare a state of emergency.
"It's basically to start setting the table for future FEMA monies that could be available to help some of the disadvantaged communities, some of the people that could be most impacted by the water shortage," said Luke Serpa, the Public Utilities Director for Clovis.
The city of Visalia will take up the issue of stronger water conservation efforts in two weeks, after they consider the options they heard at Monday's meeting.