California Drought One of the Worst in Three Consecutive Years

California Governor Jerry Brown has issued a state emergency to reduce water usage by 20% until some sign of rain water arrives. 

This has been one of the driest winters in three consecutive years. Once where the Sierra Nevadas were blanketed in snow, are dry as a bone and the ski resorts and local sports shops are selling and renting mountain bikes, and any other kind of spring and summer gear. Many reservoirs have been depleted and all the records taken couldn't compete with this year. This environmental disaster is also going to threaten a $45 billion dollar agricultural industry, sending lots of farm workers home permanently or temporarily. San Joaquín Valley is experiencing lack of precipitation in the agricultural business. In addition to this, when there is no water, there will be a lack of jobs or no jobs at all for the fieldworkers. Cattle ranchers have had to make cuts on their herds because they just can't afford the amount of water they need to grow and the amount to graze off the grass. In some ranches, the farmers have even bought hay. 

A Gold Rush ghost town once flooded has now receded from the lake since the 1950s. Some very severe water restrictions were imposed such as not watering the grass. There is even a program called Cash for Grass that will give any homeowner cash for changing their landscape into a water wise one. Wildfires are popping up around Southern California,  when they shouldn't be happening in January. Bears and other wild winter animals are rising from hibernation and tree leaves are sprouting out as if it were spring time.  

SOURCES:
NBC News 
The Sacramento Bee
New York Times
Accuweather News