On March 24, 2026, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a proclamation to end the 2021 Drought Emergency. Gov. Newsom’s action came approximately two weeks after nonprofits CSPA and AquAlliance filed a lawsuit regarding the matter on March 10, 2026 in Alameda County Superior Court. The proclamation can be found in a list of terminations of states of emergency.
The end to the drought emergency is welcome because the emergency had weakened environmental protection. CSPA and AquAlliance’s lawsuit contained the February 24, 2026 U.S. Drought Monitor map. This map showed that no counties in the State were in a condition of drought. The U.S. Drought Monitor map is a joint production of the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the United States Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The lawsuit also contained a March 2, 2026 map of major California reservoirs published by the California Department of Water Resources. This map showed all depicted reservoirs were at or above average storage for the date.
“A declared drought after three plus wet years didn’t pass the smell test. The [State] administration seemed content to indefinitely weaken rules that protect fish and promote responsible water management. We are happy we were able to hold the Governor accountable,” said Chris Shutes, Executive Director of CSPA.
Barbara Vlamis, Executive Director of AquAlliance, said that maintaining drought emergency proclamations and orders enabled exemptions to other laws that are essential to protect communities, public health, the environment, and local economies.
“Our legal action was necessary since there was no meaningful process that allowed the plaintiffs to intercede on proposed recharge projects in Tehama County. Recharge projects have the potential to seriously damage other groundwater-dependent farms and homes, streams, rivers, and communities,” said Vlamis.
A south-facing panoramic drone view of Lake Del Valle in Alameda County, taken March 19, 2026. Image: Nick Shockey and the California Department of Water Resources