On Wednesday, Governor Newsom submitted a letter to the Secretary of the Interior as well as the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation to trigger release of federal emergency funds to the Klamath Basin water users. This action was in concert with similar action by Oregon Governor Kate Brown. Under federal statute, both Governors were required to submit the request for the funds to be released. With the submission of this request by both Governors, the funds are expected to be released shortly to relieve some of the financial distress in the agricultural community.
Similar action was also taken by California Governor Brown and Oregon Governor Brown in 2018. Thanks to the leadership of Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot and Secretary of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross for expediting the request.