Adopt the Drought Resilience Plan and approve and promulgate the Emergency Support Function Drought Annex. (No general fund impact) (Webb/Snyder)

Adopt the Drought Resilience Plan and approve and promulgate the Emergency Support Function Drought Annex, which incorporates the Drought Resilience Plan. 

In September 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 552 (SB 552), which requires state and local governments to share responsibility for planning and responding to water shortage events, with an emphasis on rural communities and small water systems. SB 552 identifies counties as the most appropriate entities to lead efforts to improve water resilience for residents relying on domestic wells and small water systems.

Under SB 552, all California counties must prepare a County Drought Resilience Plan (County DRP) to support long-term water reliability and resilience. The legislation also directs counties to establish a County Drought and Water Shortage Task Force to promote ongoing drought planning and coordination.

In October 2023, Yolo County received a grant from the California Department of Water Resources’ Drought Resilience Planning Assistance Program to support technical analysis for identifying vulnerabilities and risks related to water shortages. Development of the County DRP has been a collaborative, multi-agency and multi-departmental effort, designed to create a proactive and comprehensive approach to drought preparedness.

In 2023, Yolo County convened a kickoff meeting to initiate development of the Drought Resiliency Plan and to formalize the Drought Task Force. The Task Force includes representatives from the Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency (YSGA), Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District (YCFC&WCD), City of Winters, City of Woodland, City of West Sacramento, Yolo County Farm Bureau, Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, local Community Services District managers, and multiple County divisions, including Environmental Health, CSA Management, Planning, and the Office of Emergency Services (OES). From 2023 through 2025, the County met regularly with the Drought Task Force to review and provide input on individual chapters of the Plan as they were developed. On October 29, 2025, the County distributed the complete draft Drought Resiliency Plan to the Drought Task Force for review and comment through November 2025. Following incorporation of Task Force feedback, the Plan was released for public review. On December 18, 2025, the County issued a press release inviting public comment on the draft Plan. The document was available for review throughout January 2026. The County received several public comments, which, along with corresponding responses, are included as Appendix A to the Plan.

The draft Yolo County Drought Resilience Plan focuses on four key areas: countywide data collection; assessment of vulnerabilities and risks; identification of short-term response actions; and development of long-term mitigation strategies to improve water resilience across the county. The Plan underwent public review in January and is now ready for adoption as an element of the Emergency Support Function (ESF) Drought Annex. 

The ESF Drought Annex outlines Yolo County’s strategic approach to managing emergency incidents, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts related to drought or water shortages. Developed in accordance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Comprehensive Planning Guide 101 (version 3) and California Emergency Planning Guidance, the annex defines specific roles and responsibilities for agencies during emergencies. It ensures all involved parties operate under current, effective procedures, enhancing their preparedness and response capabilities.

Aligning all stakeholders with these guidelines is critical for efficient emergency operations. Yolo County will implement the Drought Resilience Plan in close coordination with the County Drought and Water Shortage Task Force, local water suppliers, and managers across the county.

By adopting the Drought Resilience Plan and approving the ESF Drought Annex, the Board of Supervisors will strengthen the County’s preparedness and response capabilities, fostering a coordinated and effective approach to managing drought and water shortages in Yolo County.

The Drought Resilience Plan was developed in close coordination with the Drought Task Force, including the California Department of Water Resources, Yolo Subbasin Groundwater Agency, and County Divisions of Environmental Health, CSA Management, OES, and Planning.