California will run out of water in 12 months , according to a NASA scientist . The state only has one year of supply left in its reservoirs due to persistent drought and is also running out of backup groundwater , Jay Famiglietti , senior water scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory , wrote . The drought means that total water storage in California , which has been in decline since 2002 , has been sapped by the need to use the resource for farming , he said in the Los Angeles Times . Scroll down for video . Reservoirs in California such as Folsom Lake ( pictured ) in the state 's north are now expected to run out of water in a year , according to NASA scientist Jay Famiglietti . The scientist suggested immediate water-rationing measures after a four year drought left reservoirs 34million acre-feet below normal last year . Since 2011 the state has been losing 12million acre-feet of water per year and the total amount of water in snow , rivers , groundwater and reservoirs was 34million acre-feet below normal in 2014 . Famiglietti suggested immediate water-rationing measures , which are being considered in southern California , across the state . The use of groundwater for farming in the Central Valley has caused land to sink by one foot a year . Sprinklers and other landscaping accounts for 70 per cent of urban water use , according to the Sacramento Bee . Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought emergency at the beginning of last year , though Californians only reduced their water usage by 9 per cent instead of a hoped-for 20 per cent . Beyond residents ' consumpton , use of groundwater for farming in the Central Valley has caused land to sink by one foot a year . He also urged the acceleration of task forces and programs meant to ensure that California will have enough water in the future , which are currently slated to 'achieve sustainability ' in 2042 . The current drought in the western United States , which is entering its fourth year , is the worst in modern American history . Snowpacks in California mountains like the Sierra Nevadas , which the state relies to melt into water , have been near record lows this year . Scientists from NASA , Cornell University and Columbia University released research in February that said there could be worse droughts to come . Above , a water regulator looks at a plant irrigation system . Famiglietti said that efforts need to be accelerated before it 's too late , because he 'd 'like to live in a state that has a paddle so that it might also still have a creek ' . Jay Famiglietti , writing in the Los Angeles Times , said he 'd 'like to live in a state that has a paddle so that it might also still have a creek ' Scientists from NASA , Cornell University and Columbia University released research in February that said there could be worse droughts to come . A 'Megadrought ' that could last several decades and would be worse than any other such phenomenon in 1000 years is expected sometimes between 2050 and 2099 , according to their research published in Science . The current dryness affects not only the West Coast , but also the rest of the country . California grows the majority of many fruits and vegetables for the US . Their produce makes up 69 per cent of carrots , 71 per cent of spinach , 99 per cent of artichokes and more than 90 per cent of broccoli , according to Slate . Famiglietti said that 'the public remains detached from discussions and decisions ' about conserving water and urged them to take ownership of the crisis .
NASA 's Jay Famiglietti urges acceleration of programs to save water . Snowpacks in California mountains near record lows during drought . He says public have not been involved in discussions about the problem .