Before-and-after images of Lake Oroville and Folsom Lake expose the shocking impact of California’s deepening drought and water crisis.
A narrow ribbon of water now winds beneath Lake Oroville’s once-majestic Enterprise Bridge — a haunting image that illustrates just how severe California’s ongoing drought has become.
Nestled at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Butte County, Lake Oroville is California’s second-largest reservoir, following only Shasta Lake. But after suffering through three consecutive years of minimal rainfall, the lake is now reduced to just 32% of its total storage capacity.
The urgency around water conservation has intensified for Californians, particularly amid widespread debates sparked by the viral Ice Bucket Challenge. While dumping a bucket of ice water on one’s head may seem trivial, it pales in comparison to the daily occurrences of water waste — leaky kitchen faucets, routine car washes, over-watered lawns, and excessively long showers.California’s drought situation has become critical. In Los Angeles, Phase 2 of the city’s mandatory water conservation ordinance has already been activated.
Under this mandate, a dedicated team of water-use inspectors now patrols neighborhoods, enforcing restrictions and issuing fines to violators. Should the dry conditions persist through fall and winter, Phase 3 will be enacted — a phase that carries even stricter limitations and potential bans on specific types of water usage. To truly grasp the magnitude of California’s water crisis, a side-by-side visual comparison helps. Below are striking images of Lake Oroville and Folsom Lake — the latter located in Sacramento County and currently sitting at just 40% capacity — captured in both 2011 and 2014. The difference is alarming.
