California experiencing fourth year of drought
California is experiencing a fourth year of a severe drought. Statewide water restrictions have been announced for the first time in the state’s history.
- A farmer ploughs his dusty field in Sheldon as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 25, 2015. California has recently announced sweeping statewide water restrictions for the first time in history in order to combat the region’s devastating drought, the worst since records began. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- A dead tree is seen on a dried section of the New Melones Lake reservoir which is now at less than 20 percent capacity as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 24, 2015. California has recently announced sweeping statewide water restrictions for the first time in history in order to combat the region’s devastating drought, the worst since records began. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- Denise Hurst shows her drought-tolerant garden she planted with the help of a city program that offers rebates of $3.50 per square foot for residents who tear up their water-guzzling lawns and plant drought-resistant plants that require little to no watering in Long Beach, Calif. A cash-for-grass program is proving so popular during California’s drought that a water wholesaler is considering boosting the budget for turf replacement rebates. Board members of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will meet Tuesday, May 26, 2015, to discuss adding $350 million to its lawn rebate program. (Nick Ut, AP photo)
- Brown Lawns Green owner Bill Schaffer applies green paint to a brown lawn on May 29, 2015 in Novato, California. As the severe California drought continues to worsen, homeowners and businesses looking to conserve water are letting lawns go dormant and are having them painted to look green. The paint lasts eight weeks on dormant lawns and will not wash off. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- Brown Lawns Green owner Bill Schaffer paints a brown lawn on May 29, 2015 in Novato, California. As the severe California drought continues to worsen, homeowners and businesses looking to conserve water are letting lawns go dormant and are having them painted to look green. The paint lasts eight weeks on dormant lawns and will not wash off. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- Brown Lawns Green owner Bill Schaffer applies green paint to a brown lawn on May 29, 2015 in Novato, California. As the severe California drought continues to worsen, homeowners and businesses looking to conserve water are letting lawns go dormant and are having them painted to look green. The paint lasts eigh weeks on dormant lawns and will not wash off. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- A pontoon bridge sits on a dried up section of the the Oroville Lake reservoir which is now at less than 25 percent capacity as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 24, 2015. California has recently announced sweeping statewide water restrictions for the first time in history in order to combat the region’s devastating drought, the worst since records began. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- Kayakers paddle on the Oroville Lake reservoir which is now at less than 25 percent capacity as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 24, 2015. California has recently announced sweeping statewide water restrictions for the first time in history in order to combat the region’s devastating drought, the worst since records began. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- Houseboats are moored on a shrinking arm of the Oroville Lake reservoir which is now at 25 percent capacity as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 24, 2015. Local media is reporting that California officials are now looking to Australia for advice on how to deal with long term drought as the state enters its fourth year of severe drought. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- Houseboats are moored on a shrinking arm of the Oroville Lake reservoir which is now at 25 percent capacity as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 24, 2015. Local media is reporting that California officials are now looking to Australia for advice on how to deal with long term drought as the state enters its fourth year of severe drought. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- People launch their boats near an almost dry section of the Shasta Lake reservoir which is now at less than 20 percent capacity as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 25, 2015. California has recently announced sweeping statewide water restrictions for the first time in history in order to combat the region’s devastating drought, the worst since records began. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- Water is seen at the bottom of the New Melones Lake reservoir which is now at less than 20 percent capacity as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 26, 2015. California has recently announced sweeping statewide water restrictions for the first time in history in order to combat the region’s devastating drought, the worst since records began. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- Dried mud and the remnants of a marina at the New Melones Lake reservoir which is now at less than 20% capacity as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 24, 2015. California has recently announced sweeping statewide water restrictions for the first time in history in order to combat the region’s devastating drought, the worst since records began. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- Houseboats sit in storage beside the Oroville Lake reservoir which is now at less than 25 percent capacity as a severe drought continues to affect California on May 25, 2015. California has recently announced sweeping statewide water restrictions for the first time in history in order to combat the region’s devastating drought, the worst since records began. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images)
- Morning traffic makes its way toward downtown Los Angeles along the Hollywood Freeway past an electronic sign warning of severe drought. From drought-shaming to eco-boasting, willing or not, celebrities play a role in raising awareness about the debilitating drought in Calif. “We’re all in this together,” said actress Wendie Malick. “Unfortunately, it had to come to this crisis moment to get us all on board.” (Richard Vogel/AP photo)
- A sign announcing that water is only served upon request is posted on a restaurant table on April 21, 2015 in San Francisco, California. As California enters its fourth year of severe drought, restaurants throughout San Francisco and California are only serving water to customers that request it. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
- A ground water level sign emphasizes the urgency of a drought-related water supply emergency in the community of Lake of the Woods in Los Padres National Forest on May 7, 2015 near Frazier Park, California. According to an aerial survey conducted by the U.S. Forest Service in April, about 12 million trees have died in California forestlands in the past year because of extreme drought. The dead trees add to the flammability of a drying landscape that is increasingly threatened by large, intense wildfires. In some areas where extremely hot wildfires have occurred, as in the 437-square mile Cedar fire that burned across San Diego County in 2003, most trees have died and chaparral brush is displacing the forests and animals that rely upon them. The findings of the study were compared to similar surveys taken in July 2014. (David McNew/Getty Images)
- Dead and dying trees are seen in a forest stressed by historic drought conditions in Los Padres National Forest on May 7, 2015 near Frazier Park, California. According to an aerial survey conducted by the U.S. Forest Service in April, about 12 million trees have died in California forestlands in the past year because of extreme drought. The dead trees add to the flammability of a drying landscape that is increasingly threatened by large, intense wildfires. In some areas where extremely hot wildfires have occurred, as in the 437-square mile Cedar fire that burned across San Diego County in 2003, most trees have died and chaparral brush is displacing the forests and animals that rely upon them. The findings of the study were compared to similar surveys taken in July 2014. (David McNew/Getty Images)
- A welder works on an abutment support during the construction of a temporary emergency barrier to block salt water intrusion into the West False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta near Oakley, Calif., Friday, May 29, 2015. About 150,000 tons of been used in the construction of the nearly 750-foot-wide barrier, built between Jersey and Bradford Islands by the California Department of Water Resources. The project, which is nearing completion nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, will be removed in mid-November. As less fresh water flows down the rivers, due to California’s historic drought, salt salt water moves farther up the delta which effects the water supply to communities and irrigation water for farmers. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP photo)
- A load of rocks are placed during the construction of a temporary emergency barrier to block salt water intrusion into the West False River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta near Oakley, Calif., Friday, May 29, 2015. About 150,000 tons of been used in the construction of the nearly 750-foot-wide barrier, built between Jersey and Bradford Islands by the California Department of Water Resources. The project, which is nearing completion nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, will be removed in mid-November. As less fresh water flows down the rivers, due to California’s historic drought, salt water moves farther up the delta which effects the water supply to communities and irrigation water for farmers. (Rich Pedroncelli/AP photo)