California has a “feast or famine” hydrology. This means that some years are wet and some years are dry. Several dry years can be considered a drought. We are currently in a drought though recent storms are helping us climb out.

So dry in the middle of the lake- the gauge is dry, and the vultures are landing
Madera County Drought Workgroup
The Drought Workgroup meetings are open to everyone created as outreach and education in response to the extreme drought in California. Each month there is a different guest speaker with a new drought topic as well as this group acting as a clearinghouse getting drought information out to the public through the partners that join the call each month. We are working on drafting the Madera County Drought Contingency Plan required by Senate Bill 552.
Madera County Drought Workgroup Presentations
2022: Drafting of Drought Plan-SB 552
10-21-22 Madera County Drought Workgroup meeting
9-16-22 Madera County Drought Workgroup meeting
8-19-22 Madera County Drought Workgroup meeting
2022
Private Wells – California Water Institute- Fresno State
2021
Self-Help Presentation- Drought Workshop
Nitrate Control Program Presentation-Drought Workshop
Madera RWMG Presentation- Drought Workshop
Resources for Residents
If you have issues with your domestic well or need bottled water, please contact Self-Help Enterprises at (559) 802-1685
E-mail: droughtsupport@selfhelpenterprises.org
Additional Resources
Climate Tools | California Nevada Applications Program (ucsd.edu)
Defensible Space and Drought – Ready for Wildfire
Dry Well Reporting System (ca.gov)
Groundwater Wells | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)
Madera County Public Health- Water Testing
Private Drinking Water Wells | US EPA
Water Conservation | California State Water Resources Control Board
Water Sources – California Partnership for the San Joaquin Valley (sjvpartnership.org)
Water Systems Management Lab | at UC Merced
Welcome to Californiawater.org – California Water
Articles
California drought – Newsom orders tighter water conservation rules
Drought Spreads to 93 Percent of West – That’s Never Happened – Scientific American
Droughts, Explained – UC Davis Magazine
No, California’s drought isn’t over. Here’s why. – CalMatters
Who is to Blame for California’s Drought – UC Davis Magazine