Fresno was the first stop for Gov. Jerry Brown during his two-day visit to the Central Valley.
In a press conference, the governor acknowledged that California is in a drought.
"We have to take this drought very serious. In many ways it's a mega drought. It's been going on for a number of years," Brown said.
He stopped short of declaring an official emergency drought situation for the state that would ease up environmental regulations and ease water transfers for farmers such as Joe Del Bosque, a west side farmer.
As the Valley enters its third dry year, Del Bosque is already preparing himself for the long-term effects.
"For next year, we could lose even our orchards. And that's a very daunting thought because I've been farming for 28 years now. And to lose all that basically puts me out of business," Del Bosque said.
He was one of the farmers who met with the governor behind closed doors Monday morning.
Local leaders also joined on the push for a drought declaration.
Assemblymember Henry T. Perea (D-Fresno) said the declaration of a drought would address short-term concerns "so that state agencies have more flexibility in how they move their water around the Valley."
If help doesn't come soon, farmers fear the drought will have a domino effect on the community.
"That's a huge economic hit for our communities, for our farm workers, loss of jobs, and so forth," Del Bosque said.
While meteorologists and farmers have said, for all intents and purposes, California is in a drought, local leaders and farmers wait on the governor's declaration.
"Not today, but we're certainly getting ready [to declare a drought]."
In a press conference, the governor acknowledged that California is in a drought.
"We have to take this drought very serious. In many ways it's a mega drought. It's been going on for a number of years," Brown said.
He stopped short of declaring an official emergency drought situation for the state that would ease up environmental regulations and ease water transfers for farmers such as Joe Del Bosque, a west side farmer.
As the Valley enters its third dry year, Del Bosque is already preparing himself for the long-term effects.
"For next year, we could lose even our orchards. And that's a very daunting thought because I've been farming for 28 years now. And to lose all that basically puts me out of business," Del Bosque said.
He was one of the farmers who met with the governor behind closed doors Monday morning.
Local leaders also joined on the push for a drought declaration.
Assemblymember Henry T. Perea (D-Fresno) said the declaration of a drought would address short-term concerns "so that state agencies have more flexibility in how they move their water around the Valley."
If help doesn't come soon, farmers fear the drought will have a domino effect on the community.
"That's a huge economic hit for our communities, for our farm workers, loss of jobs, and so forth," Del Bosque said.
While meteorologists and farmers have said, for all intents and purposes, California is in a drought, local leaders and farmers wait on the governor's declaration.
"Not today, but we're certainly getting ready [to declare a drought]."