NY Times article
here.

With little snow in the forecast, experts are warning that this
drought, after one of the driest years on record last year, could be as
disruptive as the severe droughts of the 1970s.

Signs of drought are everywhere, affecting vast sectors of the economy. A sense
of dread is building among farmers, many whom have already let fields go fallow.
Without more water, an estimated 200,000 acres of prime agriculture land will go
unplanted in Fresno County, according to Westlands Water District officials.
Cattle ranchers accustomed to letting cows graze on rain-fed grass have had to
rely on bought hay or reduce their herds.

After the survey this month, the Department of Water Resources said that the
snowpack was only 20 percent of the historical average.

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/01/18/3182581/california-extreme-drought-emergency/