California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) declared a state of emergency in Mendocino and Sonoma counties on April 21 due to drought conditions. The emergency declaration marks the second year of drought conditions in the Golden State. Newsom’s emergency order directs state agencies to inform Californians about drought conditions and encourage water conservation. Newsom made the announcement at Lake Mendocino, using the backdrop to illustrate the severity of the drought. “Where I’m standing I should be 40 ft under the water of Lake Mendocino. Instead—I’m on dry, cracked earth,” the governor said on Twitter. “Today I declared a drought conditions state of emergency in Mendocino & Sonoma to immediately increase drought resilience.” Newsom’s order states that much of the western U.S. is dealing with drought conditions and that there are “drought or near-drought throughout many portions of the state.” Newsom told the press the drought order could and likely will be …