H2NO: San Diego Going Dry

California is teetering on the edge of the worst drought in the state's history. The lack of rainfall and melting snowpack is causing reservoirs to shrink and rivers to run dry, and the water supply for millions of residents is being threatened. KPBS looks at the impacts of going dry.

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Online Resources

How Bad is it?
Use this interactive map to see the latest drought conditions at the state, regional, and national levels.
How Bad is it Going to Get?
See NOAA's precipitation predictions for the first half of 2009.
How Much Water Do We Have?
Check the current water levels in California's reservoirs.
What Will it Take?
Use data and maps from NOAA to determine precipitation needed to end the drought.
How Does This Drought Compare?
Compare maps of current state and national streamflow with historical data.
Where Does My Water Come From?
Read about where the water in your hometown comes from.
What's My Water Footprint?
Calculate how much water you use.

Drought News from the Web

California's Water

From KQED Public Radio: Water

The California Report | Fri, Nov 6 2009, 8:50 AM

Uncertain Future for Lake Mead and the Colorado River

The bundle of water bills passed this week in Sacramento was designed to attack some of California's long-term worries over water supply. Mostly, the legislation addresses the troubled Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and groundwater issues. But there's another big question mark in the state's water mix: the Colorado River. It's a crucial source of water for Southern Californians and it's in trouble, too.

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Slideshow

Water levels in Lake Mead are dangerously low and dropping, a condition that may render the Hoover Dam inoperable, threatening California's water and power supplies.
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KQED Radio News | Mon, Sep 21 2009, 5:30 PM

What's Behind Water Delivery Cutbacks?

Who, or what, is to blame for the cutback on water deliveries to farms in the San Joaquin Valley? Many farmers, especially west of Fresno, blame court orders protecting smelt and salmon in the delta. But the Department of Interior says the real culprit is three years of below average rainfall -- and the danger of environmental collapse in the delta.

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The California Report | Mon, Jun 8 2009, 8:50 AM

Farmers in a World with Less Water

California produces most of the nation's fruit, nuts and vegetables. But the state is facing a third year of drought, and most climate scientists agree that California's future looks like less water when and where we need it. Energy Secretary Steven Chu has warned that it might mean the "end of agriculture" in California. But as part of our ongoing Climate Watch series, we find out how some forward-looking farmers are already adapting to a world with less water.

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