herman griffin and is survived by her two children and her daughter daughter-in-law allison griffin. thank you colleagues. today also i'm introducing two hearings. i am calling for hearing involving the public utilities commission and department of environment to begin planning for what may prove to be the worst draught we have faced in years. 2013 was the driest year in record in the bay area and 2014 is projected to be even dryer so we need to prepare. we have some of the best tap water in the country. it can be easy to forget that this water has to come from somewhere. the reservoir system through a marvel of civil engineering is still dependent on the river and the snow pack and the sierra nevada. that snow pack is now only 15 to 21 percent normal levels. 2.6 million people throughout the bay area and beyond depend on this water. the dry weather not only reduces water supply, it makes the whole system and the whole state more vulnerable to fire. when it comes to water, we are not as invincible as we may think and on january 17, governor brown declared a state of emergency and is