This contingency plan was prepared at the behest of the Governor of California by a panel that developed a contingency plan to reduce the impacts of critical water shortages primarily for agricultural & urban water users.Ó The Panel's charge & its membership are described first. Provides background information on changes in California water mgmt. conditions since the last statewide critical water shortage -- the drought of 1987-92 -- & describes challenges associated with effective water mgmt. in times of shortages. Describes Panel members' recommend. for actions that State gov't. could take to reduce the impacts of critical water shortages. Illustrated.