Yahoo News had a couple of stories yesterday highlighting more problems with the continuing drought on the West Coast and impacts on agriculture.

One story noted that California’s snowpack is already gone for the year, which means no more water coming down the rivers for irrigation until the next rainy season begins.  Governor Brown has already implemented mandatory water cutbacks, and some California farmers agreed to voluntarily reduce their water use by 25%.  With the lack of snow to melt off, more cuts may be needed later this season.

In Washington state, low snowpack and drought conditions there are causing some cattle farmers to cut back their irrigation of pastures or drill emergency wells.  You can read more here.

Kings Canyon CA snowpack in 2002.  Source: NASA/Commons Wikimedia
Kings Canyon CA snowpack in 2002. Source: NASA/Commons Wikimedia