Following the decision June 17, this declaration imposes new "usage reduction measures" for residential water use. For instance, residents may now water their lawns or top off their pools once every five to seven days and are prohibited from washing buildings or outdoor surfaces unless required for safety.
The drought stage for the district is defined as the highest level of drought intensity over at least 25% of the land area over at least two weeks, the press release said. The declaration of being in "severe drought" corresponds to the U.S. Drought Monitor intensity levels, which go from D-0, meaning abnormally dry, to D-4, or exceptional drought. The current designation falls into D-2, or severe drought, which the press release said the district passed the threshold for in May.
The decision by the board to change the drought status may consider other factors that consider factors that influence aquifer conditions and outlook, according to the press release.
More information on these restrictions can be found on the district's website along with guidelines for residents with groundwater wells. Additionally, the district gave a presentation in early June outlining the state of groundwater in the district and stressing the importance of conservation.
A boundary map of the conservation district is available here.
