• California's current drought will cost the state $2.2 billion and 17,000 jobs, researchers announced at a press conference July 15 in Washington, D.C. The findings are from a new report from the UC Davis Center for Watershed Science.

• California is one of the U.S.'s biggest food producers — responsible for almost half the country's produce and nuts and 25% of our milk and cream. Eighty percent of the world's almonds come from the state, and they take an extraordinary amount of water to produce — 1.1 gallons per almond. (4.9 gallons per walnut; 3.3 gallons per tomato; 22 gallons per apple)

• But this food-rich state is in its fifth year of drought. In May, 100% of the state was in drought and the food-producing Central Valley was in an "exceptional drought.“ http://www.businessinsider.com/californias-drought-cost-state-22-billion-2014-7#ixzz3CPIRYwnP