California Drought Since 2010, California, United States

There have been several severe droughts in California history. As the most populous state in the U.S. and a major agricultural producer, drought in California can have a severe economic as well as environmental impact. Drought may be due solely or in combination to weather conditions; economic or political actions; or population and farming.
Drought 2010-Present
California has been experiencing a drought since 2010. In 2013 the total rainfall was less than 34% of what was expected. Many regions of the state accumulated less rainfall in 2013 than any other year on record. As a result of this, many fish species are threatened. Streams and rivers are so low that fish can’t get to their spawning grounds, and survival rates of any eggs that are laid were expected to be low. Lack of rainfall has caused the mouths of rivers to be blocked off by sand bars which further prevents fish from reaching their spawning grounds. Stafford Lehr, Chief of Fisheries within the California Department of Fish and Wildlife says that 95% of winter run salmon didn’t survive last year.