“This is unprecedented territory. We’ve never done anything like this before.”

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California spokesperson Rebecca Kimitch, regarding the district board’s declaration of a water shortage emergency and requirement that cities and water agencies implement a water cutback on June 1 or face hefty fines. The Metropolitan Water District uses water from the Colorado River and the State Water Project to provide water to about 40 percent of the state’s population; the State Water Project estimates it will only be able to deliver about 5 percent of its usual allocation due to dry conditions. (Associated Press — April 27, 2022)