California drought: State's water deliveries to be halted

In this file photo, Hugh Beggs of Santa Rosa searches for coins in the middle of the Russian River in Healdsburg, taking advantage of the way below normal river flow. Seventeen rural communities in drought-stricken California are in danger of running out of water within four months, according to a list compiled by state officials. Wells are running dry or reservoirs are nearly empty in some communities. less In this file photo, Hugh Beggs of Santa Rosa searches for coins in the middle of the Russian River in Healdsburg, taking advantage of the way below normal river flow. Seventeen rural communities in ... more Photo: Kent Porter, Press Democrat Via AP Photo: Kent Porter, Press Democrat Via AP Image 1 of / 44 Caption Close California drought: State's water deliveries to be halted 1 / 44 Back to Gallery

(01-31) 12:20 PST Sacramento -- The California Department of Water Resources announced Friday that it expects to deliver no water from the state's vast network of reservoirs this year, the latest fallout from California's lingering drought.

Department Director Mark Cowin said at a news conference that if the dry spell continues, only carryover water from last year will be channeled to the farmers and several towns that get their water from the State Water Project.

Never in the State Water Project's 54-year history has there been zero water allocation.

"Simply put, there's not enough water in the system right now for customers to expect any water this season from the project," Cowin said in a statement to the press.

Growers in the Central Valley will bear the biggest brunt of the lack of state water. The State Water Project normally provides water to more than 750,000 acres of irrigated farmland. Twenty-nine water districts also get water from the state, leaving many communities similarly in the lurch.

Growers and water districts will be forced to get their water elsewhere, and some are in a better position to do this than others.

California is coming off its driest year since record-keeping began in the 1800s, and January has seen little rain. The past two winters have also been abnormally dry.