NY Times article
here.

Droughts appear to be intensifying over much of the West and Southwest as a
result of global warming. Over the past decade, droughts in some regions have
rivaled the epic dry spells of the 1930s and 1950s. About 34 percent of the
contiguous United States was in at least a moderate drought as of July 22.

Things have been particularly bad in California, where state officials have
approved drastic measures to reduce water consumption. California farmers,
without water from reservoirs in the Central Valley, are left to choose which of
their crops to water. Parts of Texas, Oklahoma and surrounding states are also
suffering from drought conditions.