Los Angeles ( CNN ) Gov . Jerry Brown unveiled an emergency $ 1 billion spending plan Thursday to tackle the state 's historic drought . A staggering 11 trillion gallons are needed for California to recover from the emergency . Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León said the legislation will include two bills that will speed up contracting funds to `` manage the drought and strengthen our infrastructure . '' According to the California State Water Resources Control Board , the package will specifically accelerate $ 128 million from the governor 's budget to provide direct assistance to workers and affected communities . Proposition 1 funding , which enacted the Water Quality , Supply , and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 , will funnel $ 272 million into safe drinking water efforts and maintenance of water recycling infrastructure . Some $ 660 million from Prop 1 will also be accelerated for flood protection in urban and rural areas . As part of the changes , Brown said additional measures will crack down on water inefficiency as California enters the fourth year of a worsening-water crisis . `` This unprecedented drought continues with no signs yet of letting up , '' said Brown . `` But we have a lot of good policies coming . '' To exacerbate matters , weather conditions are continuing to diminish natural resources . The Sierra Nevada snowpack , which Californians rely on heavily during the summer for their water needs , is at a near record low . The March snowpack measurement came in at 0.9 inches of water content in the snow , just 5 % of the March 3 historical average for the measurement site . The overall water content for the Northern Sierra snowpack came in at 4.4 inches , just 16 % of average for the date . Central and southern Sierra readings were 5.5 inches ( 20 % of average ) and 5 inches ( 22 % of average ) respectively . Only in 1991 has the water content of the snow been lower . `` The drought is n't letting up , so we ca n't let up either , '' Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins said . `` This legislation will deliver relief to Californians harmed by the drought and help us manage the significant problems the drought continues to cause . Since our skies are still clear , our job is too . And making sure we meet emergency needs , prepare for short term problems and advance longer-term projects are an important part of that effort . '' Brown anticipates his emergency package to move into action immediately . He has recently created a Drought Task Force to expedite the legislation .
Gov . Jerry Brown : `` This unprecedented drought continues with no signs yet of letting up '' Snowpack in the the California State Water Resources Control Board mountains is alarmingly low as summer looms .