CNBC (July 31, 2014) — Suffering in its third year of drought, more than 58 percent of the state is currently in "exceptional drought" stage, the most extreme category, indicates widespread crop and pasture losses and shortages of water in reservoirs, streams and wells. The drought has nearly depleted the state's surface water—which is seen being reduced by about one-third this year. Farmers in California have turned to groundwater to keep crops irrigated. That has led to fears of depleted groundwater in the years ahead if that continues, according to a report released earlier this month. "So far, groundwater has helped get crops to market and keep food prices in line," said Jay Lund, director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis, which released the report.