The U.S. Drought Monitor released data Thursday showing that California's current drought could be the worst to hit the state in the recent past.
A map of California's drought conditions showed that half of the state is currently experiencing "exceptional" drought, which is the most severe category for this type of situation, according to The Washington Post.
The Drought Monitor report was written by Brad Rippey of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who said the drought has been going on for three years, and has resulted in the state's topsoil moisture and subsoil moisture reserves almost being depleted. He added that California now has less than a full year's worth of reserve water.
Only 36 percent of California was suffering from exceptional drought conditions a week prior to the release of the report, and no areas in the state were categorized as exceptional at the start of the year, NBC News reported. The catastrophe is also causing widespread losses in crops and pastures, as well as shortages in wells and streams.
A state of emergency was declared in January by Gov. Brown (D), who advised Californians to conserve water at any opportunity, The Washington Post reported. A warning was also issued earlier this year by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which said the state's drought could get worse. This drought was also claimed to be the most severe tracked by the Drought Monitor in the last 14 years, even before Thursday's report.
Consumers who depend on the grocery store for products could be impacted just as much as farmers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said that since California is a big producer of fruits, vegetables and dairy products, the moisture deficits from the drought could have a serious effect on the prices for these products.
Despite the growing issue, water use in urban areas actually increased by one percent in May, mostly because of the water usage in the state's coast areas increasing by 8 percent, The Washington Post reported. The situation has led to the use of "water cops" who look for people consuming far too much water. Californians are even using hashtags and apps to report neighbors considered to be wasting water, such as when they over-water or set up a Slip 'N Slide at a child's birthday party.
The National Drought Mitigation Center, which released the report, warned that Northern California is now experiencing bone-dry conditions, NBC News reported.
New regulations have been issued to handle the situation, such as fining residents $500 for hosing sidewalks and driveways or watering their lawns more than they need to.
California is only one of many states experiencing a severe drought, The Washington Post reported. Other states experiencing droughts that range from moderate to severe include Texas and Oregon, with many states west of the Mississippi River being affected by the catastrophes.
Some of the most severe droughts taking place outside of California are affecting Oklahoma, Texas, and Nevada, where one of the two worst drought conditions is affecting half the state.
