More and more Central Valley farmers are looking for ways to survive the drought.
While one option is to drill new wells, it's forcing many local farmers to dip into their bank accounts.
The process is expensive. By the time one well is ready to use, the costs can run up to $1 million. The deeper the well, the more expensive the price tag.
At an almond farm in Madera County, where well drillers are working around the clock, vice president of Arthur & Orum Well Drilling, Steve Arthur, says this is the busiest they've ever been as farmers try to save their crops during the drought.
"The drought of '77 was nothing compared to this one," Arthur says.
With a 5 percent initial water allocation for their crops, Central Valley farmers are left to dig for other costly options underground.
"The water table is around 300 feet. But we go deeper to get more water because the deeper you go, the more water you pick up. The higher yield you'll get on your well," Arthur says.
Arthur's crew will take about three to four weeks to dig a 1,900 foot hole. That will cost the farmer $400,000.
But the work isn't done with just a hole in the ground. The farmer then has to have a pump installed and the well tested. Total costs can run up to about $1 million for a well of that size, according to Arthur.
Across the Central Valley, farmer Mike Wood also grows almonds near Firebaugh.
"There's nothing cheap about any of this," Wood says.
He's installed three wells since the drought of 1977. He says even when farmers can afford to install wells, there may be no water available--or good quality water--underneath their land.
"That's the irony in this situation. We have water, even though it's poor quality. But up on the hill, it's just kind of a hit or miss deal," Wood says.
Back in Madera County, Arthur says they've already sampled the ground to make sure water is available-- that process alone cost $40,000.
"This year, they [farmers] have no choice. Either drill these deep wells, new wells, otherwise their crops will die without water," Arthur says.