Feb 26, 2014

This is the state’s third dry winter and the drought is affecting farmers and sparking wildfires.

: A sprinkler sits idle at a farm on February 25, 2014 in Firebaugh, California. As the California drought continues and farmers struggle to water their crops, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials announced this past Friday that they will not be providing Central Valley farmers with any water from the federally run system of reservoirs and canals fed by mountain runoff. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: Uprooted almond trees lay on the ground before being shredded at Baker Farming on February 25, 2014 in Firebaugh, California. Almond farmer Barry Baker of Baker Farming had 1,000 acres, 20 percent, of his almond trees removed because he doesn’t have access to enough water to keep them watered as the California drought continues. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials announced this past Friday that they will not be providing Central Valley farmers with any water from the federally run system of reservoirs and canals fed by mountain runoff. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: A water faucet stands next to a field of uprooted almond trees at Baker Farming on February 25, 2014 in Firebaugh, California. Almond farmer Barry Baker of Baker Farming had 1,000 acres, 20 percent, of his almond trees removed because he doesn’t have access to enough water to keep them watered as the California drought continues. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials announced this past Friday that they will not be providing Central Valley farmers with any water from the federally run system of reservoirs and canals fed by mountain runoff. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: Rotting pomegranates hang from a tree in an orchard on February 25, 2014 in Firebaugh, California. As the California drought continues and farmers struggle to water their crops, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials announced this past Friday that they will not be providing Central Valley farmers with any water from the federally run system of reservoirs and canals fed by mountain runoff. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: The sun rises over the Delta-Mendota Canal on February 25, 2014 in Los Banos, California. As the California drought continues and farmers struggle to water their crops, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials announced this past Friday that they will not be providing Central Valley farmers with any water from the federally run system of reservoirs and canals fed by mountain runoff. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: Workers shred uprooted almond trees at Baker Farming on February 25, 2014 in Firebaugh, California. Almond farmer Barry Baker of Baker Farming had 1,000 acres, 20 percent, of his almond trees removed because he doesn’t have access to enough water to keep them watered as the California drought continues. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials announced this past Friday that they will not be providing Central Valley farmers with any water from the federally run system of reservoirs and canals fed by mountain runoff. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: The San Luis Canal flows by an unplanted field on February 25, 2014 in Firebaugh, California. As the California drought continues and farmers struggle to water their crops, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation officials announced this past Friday that they will not be providing Central Valley farmers with any water from the federally run system of reservoirs and canals fed by mountain runoff. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: Tim Decker pours samples of Lagunitas Brewing Company beers during a brewery tour at Lagunitas Brewing Company on February 21, 2014 in Petaluma, California. Sonoma County breweries Lagunitas Brewing Company and Bear Republic rely on water from the Russian River and are worried that the extremely low water levels in the 110-mile waterway will force them to seek water from other sources, including well water, which could have an impact on the taste of their beers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: Pedestrians walk by the Bear Republic Brewery and Restaurant on February 21, 2014 in Healdsburg, California. Sonoma County breweries Lagunitas and Bear Republic rely on water from the Russian River and are worried that the extremely low water levels in the 110-mile waterway will force them to seek water from other sources, including well water, which could have an impact on the taste of their beers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: Low water levels are visible on Russian River at Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach Park on February 21, 2014 in Healdsburg, California. Sonoma County breweries Lagunitas and Bear Republic rely on water from the Russian River and are worried that the extremely low water levels in the 110-mile waterway will force them to seek water from other sources, including well water, which could have an impact on the taste of their beers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: A rope float sits on the dry banks of the Russian River at Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach Park on February 21, 2014 in Healdsburg, California. Sonoma County breweries Lagunitas and Bear Republic rely on water from the Russian River and are worried that the extremely low water levels in the 110-mile waterway will force them to seek water from other sources, including well water, which could have an impact on the taste of their beers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: A man fishes from the banks of the Russian River near Healdsburg Veterans Memorial Beach Park on February 21, 2014 in Healdsburg, California. Sonoma County breweries Lagunitas and Bear Republic rely on water from the Russian River and are worried that the extremely low water levels in the 110-mile waterway will force them to seek water from other sources, including well water, which could have an impact on the taste of their beers. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

: A U.S. Marine watches as an Osprey helicopter lands on February 14, 2014 in Los Banos, California. Obama met with farmers and ranchers while pledging millions of dollars in federal funds for drought relief projects in California. (Wally Skalij/Getty Images)

: A US Marine ducks into a dust cloud as Marine One lands with US President Barack Obama at the San Luis Water Facility February 14, 2014 in Firebaugh, California. Obama is visiting the Fresno area where he will speak with members of the community and tour drought effected areas. (Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)

: Farmer Sarah Woolf stands near a field of vegetables being irrigated on her farm near Cantua Creek, California February 14, 2014. President Barack Obama will pledge on Friday to speed federal assistance to help California recover from a crippling drought that is threatening the critical agriculture industry in the No. 1 farm state. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters photo)

: A tumbleweed is seen at an irrigation channel on a farm near Cantua Creek, California February 14, 2014. President Barack Obama will pledge on Friday to speed federal assistance to help California recover from a crippling drought that is threatening the critical agriculture industry in the No. 1 farm state. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters photo)

: A sign over a highway in Glendale, California warns motorists to save water in response to the state’s severe drought, February 14, 2014. US President Barack Obama is visiting drought-stricken California today and is expected to announce more than $160 million in federal financial aid to help California recover from the crippling drought that is threatening the state’s agriculture industry. (Robyn Beck/Getty Images)

: A sign over a highway in Glendale, California warns motorists to save water in response to the state’s severe drought, February 14, 2014. US President Barack Obama is visiting drought-stricken California today and is expected to announce more than $160 million in federal financial aid to help California recover from the crippling drought that is threatening the state’s agriculture industry. (Robyn Beck/Getty Images)

: Ranch hand Ricardo Madrigal feeds cattle on the Van Vleck Ranch in Rancho Murieta, California, February 12, 2014. California’s ongoing drought has greatly increased feed costs for ranchers, forcing some to sell their cattle. The Van Vleck ranch has been feeding $1200 worth of hay per day, whereas in a normal year the cows would feed on grass for free. (Max Whittaker/Reuters photo)

: A sign advising to pray for rain hangs above an exhibit area at the 47th Annual World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, February 12, 2014. The expo takes place as a third year of drought plagues California farmers with the driest year on record and prompting California Governor Jerry Brown to declare a statewide drought emergency. (David McNew/ Reuters photo)

: Docks float on extremely low-level water in Lake Kaweah on February 5, 2014 near Visalia, California. Now in its third straight year of unprecedented drought, California is experiencing its driest year on record, dating back 119 years and possible the worst in the past 500 years. Grasslands that support cattle have dried up, forcing ranchers to feed them expensive supplemental hay to keep them from starving or to sell at least some of their herds, and farmers are struggling with diminishing crop water and what to plant or whether to tear out permanent crops which use water year-round such, as almond trees. About 17 rural communities could run out of drinking water within several weeks and politicians are are pushing to undo laws that protect several endangered species. (David McNew/Getty Images)

: An avocado grove, one of the permanent crops of the area that some farmers are cutting back because of the expense of year-round water needs, is irrigated on February 5, 2014 near Visalia, California. Now in its third straight year of unprecedented drought, California is experiencing its driest year on record, dating back 119 years and possible the worst in the past 500 years. Grasslands that support cattle have dried up, forcing ranchers to feed them expensive supplemental hay to keep them from starving or to sell at least some of their herds, and farmers are struggling with diminishing crop water and what to plant or whether to tear out permanent crops which use water year-round such, as almond trees. About 17 rural communities could run out of drinking water within several weeks and politicians are are pushing to undo laws that protect several endangered species. (David McNew/Getty Images)

: Land is exposed by the extremely low water level of Lake Kaweah on February 5, 2014 near Visalia, California. Now in its third straight year of unprecedented drought, California is experiencing its driest year on record, dating back 119 years and possible the worst in the past 500 years. Grasslands that support cattle have dried up, forcing ranchers to feed them expensive supplemental hay to keep them from starving or to sell at least some of their herds, and farmers are struggling with diminishing crop water and what to plant or whether to tear out permanent crops which use water year-round such, as almond trees. About 17 rural communities could run out of drinking water within several weeks and politicians are are pushing to undo laws that protect several endangered species. (David McNew/Getty Images)

: A tumbleweed lies in the sands of the Kern River which has been dried up by water diversion projects and little rain on February 4, 2014 in Bakersfield, California. Now in its third straight year of unprecedented drought, California is experiencing its driest year on record, dating back 119 years. Grasslands that support cattle have dried up, forcing ranchers to feed them expensive supplemental hay to keep them from starving or to sell at least some of their herds, and farmers are struggling with diminishing crop water and what to plant or whether to tear out permanent crops which use water year-round such, as almond trees. About 17 rural communities could run out of drinking water within several weeks and politicians are pushing to undo laws that protect several endangered species. (David McNew/Getty Images)

: A sign from wetter times warns people not to dive from a bridge over the Kern River, which has been dried up by water diversion projects and little rain, on February 4, 2014 in Bakersfield, California. Now in its third straight year of unprecedented drought, California is experiencing its driest year on record, dating back 119 years. Grasslands that support cattle have dried up, forcing ranchers to feed them expensive supplemental hay to keep them from starving or to sell at least some of their herds, and farmers are struggling with diminishing crop water and what to plant or whether to tear out permanent crops which use water year-round such, as almond trees. About 17 rural communities could run out of drinking water within several weeks and politicians are are pushing to undo laws that protect several endangered species. (David McNew/Getty Images)

: Cattle roam on brown-dirt fields of a ranch on the outskirts of Delano, in California’s Central Valley, on February 3, 2014. At this time of the year normally, the fields would be covered in lush green grass but the western US states’ worst drought in decades has reduced the land to a parched moonscape. California rancher Nathan Carver whose family has owned a ranch nearby for five generations, remembers tales his grandparents told of the Dust Bowl years in the 1930’s, but this is as bad as he has ever seen it in his lifetime, he said. (Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images)

: Folsom police Officers Eric Baade, left, and Daren Prociw, of the mounted enforcement detail, ride their horses across the exposed lake bed at Folsom Lake, Jan. 21, 2014, in Folsom, Calif. (Aric Crabb/MCT)

: A bicyclist rides in an area that was previously underwater at Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos, Calif., Jan. 8, 2014. The water level is very low due to the ongoing drought. (Patrick Tehan//MCT)

$A stream of water trickles on the bottom of the Almaden Reservoir near San Jose, California. California Governor Jerry Brown last week declared a drought emergency, and the dry year of 2013 has left fresh water reservoirs with a fraction of their normal water reserves. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters photo)$: A stream of water trickles on the bottom of the Almaden Reservoir near San Jose, California. California Governor Jerry Brown last week declared a drought emergency, and the dry year of 2013 has left fresh water reservoirs with a fraction of their normal water reserves. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters photo)

: A pool of water is pictured on the bottom of the Almaden Reservoir near San Jose, California. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters photo)

: A water pipe that normally carries water is shown above the nearly dry Almaden Reservoir near San Jose, California. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters photo)

: Container trucks and other vehicles pass dry and barren hillsides making their way in and out of southern California. California is suffering its third dry winter in a row. (Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images)

: A vehicle crosses an overpass near the Los Angeles Aqueduct, nestled amid a dry and barren hillside in Sylmar, California, north of Los Angeles. The Aqueduct first opened 100 years ago and in 1913 it began bringing water from the Owens River on the eastern slope of the Sierra Mountains to Los Angeles, beginning the transformation and rapid expansion of the southern California city from a sleepy agricultural town into a modern metropolis. California is suffering its third dry winter in a row and is now in a state of emergency, as declared by Governor Jerry Brown on January 17, due to what could be the western US state’s worst drought in a century, sparking wildfires and hurting farmers and Brown has urged state residents to reduce their water use by at least 20 percent. (Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images)

: A residential neighborhood stands out amid a dry and barren hillside in Sylmar, California, north of Los Angeles. California is suffering its third dry winter in a row and is now in a state of emergency, as declared by Governor Jerry Brown on January 17. (Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images)

: A residential neighborhood stands out amid a dry and barren hillside in Sylmar, California, north of Los Angeles. (Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images)

: A gardener waters plants and foliage in front of an apartment complex in Monterey Park, California. (Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images)

: A vehicle enters a driveway at the end of a row of sprinklers watering plants and foliage in front of an apartment complex in South Pasadena, California. (Frederic J. Brown/Getty Images)

: The remains of an automobile is pictured on the nearly dry bottom of the Almaden Reservoir near San Jose, California. (Robert Galbraith/Reuters photo)