California Drought

      California is the state where people refer to when they say, "the grass is always greener." Well, lately the grass isn't very "green." California consists of 164,000 square miles of mountains, farmland, and coastlines.

Before and after of Lake Oroville (CA.gov)

      The state of California is facing one of the most severe droughts on record. Governor Brown announced last week to compel people to reduce water consumption.
      California is entering their fourth year of drought with a record-low. The State Water
Resources Control Board is warning that water right holders, including senior right holders, are likely to be curtailed soon within key watersheds in the state. This warning to holders of more than 36,000 water rights across the state, is designed to give water right holders advance notice to help them make difficult spring planting decisions.

      Will Califorinains be able to see what their beautiful state once looked liked?

The drought “will change what Californians see as beautiful” http://t.co/XcEB9pyEBM pic.twitter.com/KW5IX65Gin
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 4, 2015

      California once was the place where the winter-chilled tourists with eight acres of turf and flowers, city officials are in the early stages of re[lacing the grass with cactus, desert bushes and paloverde trees. The city was hoping to replace the entire lawn, but the project's $2 million price tag forced it to begin instead with three acres, said the city manager.

Before and after of Folsom Lake (CA.gov)

      The biggest water users in California is farming. California grows half of the fruits and veggies produced in the States, including more than 90 percent of the country's grapes, walnuts, almonds, and broccoli. Though agriculture uses more than 80 percent of the state's water, the regulations merely require farmers to submit "water management plans."
      What will California's next step?