California Residents Battling Worst Drought in Last 1,200 Years

With the state of California facing its driest stretch since the early 1900’s, almost all of the 40 million inhabitants are feeling the backlash of the government imposed water restrictions.

According to CBS News, California is entering its fourth consecutive year of a record breaking drought. Vegetation has declined, rivers and lakes are disappearing, and water levels lower. This year alone, it will cost the state almost $2.7 billion and reduce seasonal jobs by close to 10,000. The over 540,000 acres of fallowed agriculture land has led to almost $1 billion in lost crop revenue. Though the state’s economy is expected to survive long term, the short term impacts on the population had caused many to worry.

“It has definitely been a struggle at times,” says long time California resident Jeff Wann. He and his family, like hundreds of thousands of people, are facing the struggles of the state imposed water restrictions.

“It’s become an everyday thing that is always on your mind. Take five minute showers, don’t leave the water running, no watering the lawn. Things like that which we never had to worry about.”

According to CNN, California’s governor Jerry Brown imposed water restrictions in April that cut water usage on universities, cemeteries, and golf courses. It also bans the watering public medians. Brown allocated a $1 billion spending plan to help fight the historic drought where it is estimated would take close to 11 trillion gallons of water to recover from.

Many are facing the harsh reality of water cut backs and thousands have no water at all. In Tulare County, commonly referred to as “Ground Zero of the Drought,” over

Many lakes, such as the one pictured above, have dried up and become nothing more than pits of sand.

to 5,000 residents don’t have any running water. 20% of the residents have signed up for free daily water bottle delivery and the process of installing water drums is ongoing, but very slo
w and laborious. Tulare County is one of a handful of communities with contaminated water or no water at all.

“It’s scary to know that is has gotten this bad. I want this to end and return to living normally,” said Amy Weese.

Unfortunately, the drought has caused a multitude of problems that can and have led to different problems. The drought has caused an abundance of dry and arid land that can easily catch fire, and unfortunately has. This year alone over 700,000 acres have been destroyed by fires and they are still ongoing as I type this paper.

With the worst drought in over 100 years continuing to haunt the state of California, the residents of the state are fighting every day to live and adjust to life with limited water. Something so simple has caused such a huge problem and as of right now, there seems to be no solution anytime soon.