Governor Jerry Brown orders mandatory water cuts

California Gov. Jerry Brown has ordered state officials to impose mandatory water restrictions for the first time in history as the state grapples with a serious drought.

In an executive order issued Wednesday, Brown ordered the state water board to implement reductions in cities and towns to cut usage by 25 percent. The move will impact residents, businesses, farmers and other users. Brown says the historic drought demands unprecedented action.

The order also will require campuses, golf courses, cemeteries and other large landscapes to significantly cut water use and ban watering of grass on public street medians.

Brown made the announcement as state officials conducted the winter’s final manual survey of the snowpack in the Sierra Nevada.