California is experiencing a severe drought, one of the worst on record. Now in its third year, the water levels on the state’s lakes and reservoirs are reaching historic lows. It’s one thing to read about how bad the situation is, it’s another thing to see it.
These shocking before and after images — taken three years apart — show just how far the water levels have fallen. We’ve included other dramatic photos to help illustrate the disaster that California is experiencing.
Where is the water going? Some is evaporating, but much of it has gone to household use and to irrigate parched farmland. Sadly, there’s no end in sight.

The California Drought: Before and After
The top image shows full water levels behind the Folsom Dam at Folsom Lake, California on July 20, 2011. The bottom image shows the drastically lower water levels earlier this month.
Folsom Lake is currently at 40 percent of its total capacity.

The California Drought: Before and After
The top photo shows the water levels behind the Oroville Dam at Lake Oroville, California on July 20, 2011. The bottom photo shows the same area on August 19, 2014.

The California Drought: Before and After
In this image, the Green Bridge passes over full water levels at Lake Oroville near the Bidwell Marina on July 20, 2011. The bottom image, taken August 19, 2014, shows the shocking difference. Lake Oroville is currently at 32 percent of its total 3,537,577 acre feet.

The California Drought: Before and After
It's amazing to see a lake disappear so fast. Here, the Enterprise Bridge is shown crossing part of Lake Oroville on July 20, 2011 and on August 19 of this year. In just over three years, the section is almost dry.

The California Drought: Before and After
There's not much room left at the Bidwell Marina on Lake Oroville.

The California Drought: Before and After
At this rate, Lake Oroville's Bidwell Marina may not be around for much longer.

Browns Ravine
We've got more mind-blowing California drought images for you. In this shot, the docks at Browns Ravine sit on dry ground at Folsom Lake.

Docks
Most of the boats at Browns Ravine are moored in a parking lot.

Bottom
The land in this picture used to be the bottom of Lake Oroville.

Dwarfed
This dramatic shot shows a boat dwarfed by the steep banks of Lake Oroville.

Trickle
A stream of water trickles through a section of Lake Oroville that used to be under water.

Houseboats
These houseboats are surrounded by the steep banks of Lake Oroville.

Dark Future
The owners of the Bidwell Marina at Lake Oroville, have to keep extending their boat ramp in order to reach the rapidly receding water. Will there even be a Lake Oroville in a couple of years? Only time will tell.