Drought wreaks havoc on California farmers' livelihood

2014-02-14 107

Sarah Woolf, owner of Clark's Bros. Farming in California, is worried.

The state is in its worst drought in nearly a century, threatening to dry up Woolf's livelihood and that of many others in the No. 1 farm state.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) SARAH WOOLF, OWNER OF CLARK'S BROS. FARMING, SAYING:

"We are using our groundwater solely, and that's not sustainable. We've laid off many, many employees across the valley and our communities are suffering from those lack of jobs, and we're really... I can't imagine it getting much worse than this, but I hope it doesn't. I hope this is it."

All over the state, reservoirs like Folsom Lake outside Sacramento are well below the normal water line.

Lakebeds that should be well underwater lie exposed to the hot desert sun.

Mike Wade, executive director of the California Farm Water Coalition, doesn't see relief in sight.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) MIKE WADE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CALIFORNIA FARM WATER COALITION, SAYI