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California is experiencing the worst drought in its history, and the effects are being felt nationwide. Thus water issues have taken center stage in much of our reporting and the nation's.As the New York Times says, "Water has long been a precious resource in California, the subject of battles pitting farmer against city-dweller and northern communities against southern ones; books and movies have been made about its scarcity and plunder. Water is central to the state’s identity and economy, and a symbol of how wealth and ingenuity have tamed nature ..."As we continue through a fourth year of extreme drought conditions, you'll find all of our reporting on the related issues (and that of NPR and other member stations) in this centralized place.

Report Shows North State Responded To Water Conservation Demands

On Thursday, a report from California's Water Resources Control Board detailed how every water district in the state fared against prescribed water conservation in June. 

A few North State water districts did a great job conserving water. Cal Water Chico, Paradise Irrigation District, Shasta Lake, Bella Vista and Woodland all surpassed their reduction goals by at least 10 percent.

A few of course, did not do so well. South Feather Water and Power, Red Bluff, Yreka and Susanville all came up short by 10 percent or more. All these districts did save a significant amount of water — just not as much as they were asked.

Several Humboldt County water districts also failed to hit their target. They already use much less water than hot, dry valley districts, so their targets were much lower. The worst offender: Arcata, which only had a 4 percent reduction goal, but actually increased usage by 11 percent.
 

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