The Economist (July, 28, 2014) — The drought afflicting California—now heading into its third year—has taken a turn for the worse. Back in January, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of drought emergency, and urged Californians to cut their water use by 20%. To see what impact such conditions would have on the state, Jay Lund, director of the Center for Watershed Sciences, has simulated the effects of a 72-year drought, with rivers and streams flowing at 50% their average rates. As expected, the simulated drought proved catastrophic for some ecosystems and farming communities, with the greatest impact being felt in the agricultural heartland of the Central Valley. But the researchers were surprised by how little damage the simulated mega-drought did to the economy. The overall cost to the state was a few billion dollars a year.