California Drought 2015: Farmers Ordered to Reduce Water Consumption

Thousands of California farmers have been ordered by lawmakers to reduce their water consumption in the largest cuts in the state’s history.

State officials announced on June 12 they would be telling nearly 100 water rights holders to stop pumping from three separate waterways.

This is the first time in decades that officials have forced thousands of farmers to draw back water use.

These farmers’ rights to water were decided more than 100 years ago.

Water rights holders in the Sacramento, San Joaquin and delta watersheds will have to stop getting water from those streams.

California has ordered water use cuts for other farmers in other cities across the state.

The move has been expected for weeks, the Los Angeles Times reports. Its effects will be varied, with a lot of water harvesting work continuing on as usual.