Earlier this month, California Governor Jerry Brown enacted mandatory water restrictions for the first time in the state’s history. While the executive order doesn’t directly address hydropower generation and instead focuses on water use in cities and towns, the drought that began in 2011 has had a noticeable effect on hydropower . Furthermore, reduced levels of snowpack likely mean that hydropower output will be low throughout the summer. California’s drought caused a state of emergency to be declared in January 2014. Since then, the drought has worsened, and, as of March 31, 2015 , 41% of the state is now classified as experiencing exceptional drought, the most intense drought category. The drought has limited the state’s ability to generate electricity from its hydropower plants. For instance, the California Department of Water Resources reports that 2013-14 precipitation in […]