Photos: Signs of drought visible throughout the state
More than 600 empty docks sit on dry, cracked dirt at Folsom Lake Marina, one of the largest inland marinas in California. As the state ended 2014 with no guarantee of significant rain and snow this winter, Californians face the prospect of stricter rationing and meager irrigation deliveries for agriculture.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)California is entering its fourth consecutive year of drought, and for the second consecutive year the Legislature will consider emergency drought relief.
Researcher Blair McLaughlin, left, and Andrew Weitz, right, walk through Blue Oak trees looking for trees affected by the drought near Shandon, Calif.
(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)Passing storm clouds provide the backdrop for an early morning walk on the sand at the Santa Ana River inlet in Newport Beach.
(Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)A crew from Smartgrass Synthetic Turf rolls up a pre-measured piece of artificial grass for installation in the backyard of a home in Pacific Palisades.
(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)Rancher Bill Talbot opens a gate on his family’s leased ranch land near Bishop, Calif. Several ranchers are reducing their herds due to the drought.
(Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)As the California drought grinds into its fourth year, the barren shoreline of Shasta Lake shows the steady drop in water level. The reservoir on the Sacramento River holds about 40% of the federal Central Valley Project’s stored supply.
(Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times)Cindy Lazaris of the Catalina Island Conservancy walks along cracked earth that used to form the bottom of the Thompson (Middle Ranch) Reservoir, which has shrunk to a level which may cause the city of Avalon to cut its water usage by 50%.
(Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)Los Angeles area residents could be required to cover swimming pools due to the drought.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)Exposed shoreline shows low water levels at Castaic Lake.
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)