Last month, Governor Jerry Brown announced a $1 billion relief plan for California’s now four-year-long drought. Money in the relief plan will be allocated as such:

• $660 million for flood prevention, funded by a flood control bond voters approved in 2006
• $272 million for expedited spending on water recycling and desalination projects, funded by the $7.5 billion water bond voters approved last November
• $128 million for emergency drinking water projects and food bank assistance, funded by the general fund

Environmentalists are arguing that while the emergency relief plan is a step in the right direction, the legislation will do little to reduce current water consumption in California. Some regulations in the relief plan, summarized on the State Water Resources Control Board’s website, do immediately restrict water usage. Restrictions include banning residents from watering their lawns and landscaping more than two days per week, from irrigating during rainstorms, and for two days afterwards. The Board has also banned restaurants from offering tap water to patrons except upon request and required hotels to put up signs offering their guests the option of not having their linens and towels laundered daily.

Governor Brown took one step further on the road to water conservation in California, issuing an Executive Order on April 1, 2015 that requires the state to reduce water consumption by 25%. The Order may partially be in response to California’s disappointing attempt to conserve water, reducing their use by a measly 2.8% in February 2015. Brown attests that there will be more restrictions and regulations to come, including measures focused on California’s quickly-depleting groundwater supply.