Hereford cattle roam the dirt-brown fields of Nathan Carver's ranch which his family has owned for five generations on the outskirts of Delano, in California's Central Valley, Feb. 3, 2014.
Now in its third straight year of unprecedented drought, California is experiencing its driest year on record, dating back 119 years.
Grasslands that support cattle have dried up, forcing ranchers to feed them expensive supplemental hay to keep them from starving or to sell at least some of their herds, and farmers are struggling with diminishing crop water and what to plant or whether to tear out permanent crops which use water year-round such, as almond trees.
About 17 rural communities could run out of drinking water within several weeks and politicians are are pushing to undo laws that protect several endangered species.
This image provided by NOAA compares Jan. 13, 2013 and Jan. 13, 2014 snow cover in Northern California and Nevada as seen by the Suomi NPP satellite.
California, which is seeing its driest conditions in 500 years, is experiencing extreme drought in more than 62 percent of the state.
San Jose, Calif.
Robert Galbraith/Reuters
A boat paddle is shown on the bottom of the nearly dry Almaden Reservoir near San Jose, Calif., Jan. 21, 2014.
San Jose, Calif.
Robert Galbraith/Reuters
A stream of water trickles on the bottom of the Almaden Reservoir near San Jose, Calif., Jan. 21, 2014.
Bakersfield, Calif.
David McNew/Getty Images
A tumbleweed lies in the sands of the Kern River which has been dried up by water diversion projects and little rain, in Bakersfield, Calif., Feb. 4, 2014.
Bakersfield, Calif.
David McNew/Getty Images
A sign from wetter times warns people not to dive from a bridge over the Kern River, which has been dried up by water diversion projects and little rain, in Bakersfield, Calif., Feb. 4, 2014.
Folsom, Calif.
Robert Galbraith/Reuters
A visitor walks near the receding waters at Folsom Lake, which is at 17 percent of its capacity, in Folsom, Calif., Jan. 22, 2014.
Delano, Calif.
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California rancher Nathan Carver displays the brown dirt which covers the ranch which has been in the family for five generations on the outskirts of Delano, in California's Central Valley, Feb. 3, 2014.
Bakersfield, Calif.
David McNew/Getty Images
Tumbleweeds lie in the sands of the Kern River which has been dried up by water diversion projects and little rain, in Bakersfield, Calif., Feb. 4, 2014 .
Bakersfield, Calif.
David McNew/Getty Images
People run along a bike path next to the Kern River which has been dried up by water diversion projects and little rain, in Bakersfield, Calif., Feb. 4, 2014.
Delano, Calif.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
California rancher Nathan Carver drops off bails of hay to feed his herd of beef cattle at the ranch his family has owned for five generations on dirt-brown fields on the outskirts of Delano, in California's Central Valley, Feb. 3, 2014.
At this time of the year normally, the fields would be covered in lush green grass, but the states's worst drought in decades has reduced the land to a parched moonscape.
Folsom, Calif.
Robert Galbraith/Reuters
Visitors take photographs at the bottom of Folsom Lake, which is at 17 percent of its capacity, in Folsom, Calif., Jan. 22, 2014.
Delano, Calif.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images
California rancher Nathan Carver's herd of Hereford cattle, on the outskirts of Delano, in California's Central Valley, Feb. 3, 2014.
Carver remembers tales his grandparents told of the Dust Bowl years in the 1930's, but this is as bad as he has ever seen it in his lifetime, he said.
Bakersfield, Calif.
David McNew/Getty Images
The Kern River, dried up by water diversion projects and little rain, appears as dry sand, in Bakersfield, Calif., Feb. 4, 2014.
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