The governor of California has implemented the first mandatory water restrictions in the state's history, the BBC reported on Thursday.
The order implements a 25% reduction in water usage for cities and towns across the parched state.
Vast areas of government-owned lawns will be replaced by drought-tolerant landscaping, and towns will be banned from watering ornamental grass.
Last year, Governor Jerry Brown proclaimed a state of emergency after years of drought.
The snow in the mountains is at its lowest level since records began, so water supplies from melting snow will be lower than normal in coming months.
"We are standing on dried grass, and we should be standing in five feet of snow," said Mr Brown, speaking in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
"People should realize we're in a new era. The idea of your nice little green grass getting lots of water everyday - that's going to be a thing of the past," he said.