STOCKTON — Lawns are dying, people are installing water-saving devices, and talk continues on a conveyance to take water around (or, more precisely, under) the Delta as California enters its fourth year of drought.

Massive storms in December moved the Central Valley from the most-severe designation to one below the worst, but the drought continues.

Area farmers have had to curtail their use of surface water and pump more groundwater, and some fields are lying fallow. Migrating birds have smaller areas to stay for the winter, leading biologists to fear disease might spread among them. And fish recovery is certainly in jeopardy with lower flows in rivers and streams.

Meanwhile, areas with homes without water meters, where they have paid for water use on a flat rate, are scurrying to install the water meters, and much of the state is trying to meet Gov. Jerry Brown's goal of reducing water use by 20 percent.

Some areas, such as Tracy and Calaveras County, see great strides in reduction. But in Lodi, water use in some months actually increases from 2013 use.