California drought enters dangerous territory. What's ahead for fish, farms and cities
Sacramento Bee
1 hr ago
Dale Kasler and Ryan Sabalow, The Sacramento Bee
May 27—In just a few weeks, California's water conditions have gone from bad to terrible.
Sacramento residents have been asked to cut water usage 10%. Their counterparts on the Russian River are being told to reduce their consumption 20%.
Farmers across the Central Valley are letting fields lie fallow and dismantling their orchards. Government agencies are warning of extensive fish kills on the Sacramento River.
After a warm spring dried up practically the entire Sierra Nevada snowpack — and robbed California of enough water to fill most of Folsom Lake — state and federal officials have been forced to dramatically ramp up their drought response plans.