California's Drought Has Killed Over 12 Million Trees In The Last Year

California's Drought Has Killed Over 12 Million Trees In The Last Year
A picture taken March 09, 2014 shows Giant Sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) at the Giant Forest at Sequoia National Park in California. Five of the ten most massive trees on the planet are located within the Giant Forest. AFP PHOTO/MLADEN ANTONOV (Photo credit should read MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)
A picture taken March 09, 2014 shows Giant Sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum) at the Giant Forest at Sequoia National Park in California. Five of the ten most massive trees on the planet are located within the Giant Forest. AFP PHOTO/MLADEN ANTONOV (Photo credit should read MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images)

California's historic drought is having a major impact on the state's forests.

According to an aerial survey conducted last month by the U.S. Forest Service, approximately 12 million forest trees have died in Southern California and the southern Sierra Nevada mountains over the last year. The report credits unusually high temperatures, a diminished snowpack and a severe lack of rainfall with drying up the trees, leaving the region susceptible to forest fires.

Of the more than 4.2 million acres surveyed in Southern California, researchers found 164,000 acres with high tree mortality. They found approximately 2 million trees had died over the last year.

In the southern Sierras, researchers found over 10 million perished trees in 4.1 million acres. There, mortality is "widespread and severe" in the foothills among ponderosa, gray pine, blue oak and live oak trees.

Jeffrey Moore, the acting aerial survey program manager for the region, told the Los Angeles Times he expects the mass tree mortality to continue throughout the summer.

“It is almost certain that millions more trees will die over the course of the upcoming summer as the drought situation continues and becomes ever more long term and as bark beetle populations continue to expand," he said.

California is in its fourth year of drought, with precipitation levels far below normal across the state. According to the National Drought Mitigation Center, 66.6 percent of the state is currently experiencing severe or exceptional drought.

The rainfall deficits have prompted Gov. Jerry Brown (D) to impose the state's first-ever mandatory water cutbacks, calling for reductions of 10 to 35 percent from 2013 usage levels. Violators could face fines up to $10,000.

"Today we are standing on dry grass where there should be five feet of snow," Brown said in a statement last month. "This historic drought demands unprecedented action."

Before You Go

At Beal's Point on Folsom Lake in Northern California the water has almost disappeared. We are in the midst of a severe drought and for much of the Sacramento area this is it's water source.Edit: Since writing this 12 days ago, we've had major fires near Yosemite Park and the 4000 acre Sand Fire east of Sacramento.
Coyote Hills RP, Fremont, CA July 13, 2014.
We may be going through a stretch of beautiful January weather right now in California, but our rivers, lakes and streams are quickly drying up... not good. #OurDroughtIsReal
California Drought: Ducks and Geese in East Jesus
This empty picnic table which looks out over Folsom Dam in Northern California is indicative of the dearth of visitors. This is just one small facet of California's drought.
As I stepped onto the forest floor to shoot this I could hear the pine needles crack and could feel the thick dry duf give way under my feet. California is so dry...so primed for fire that one worries about what August and September will bring.
Coyote Hills RP, Fremont, CA July 23, 2014
Coyote Hills RP, Fremont, CA July 23, 2014
Planted this tree fifteen years ago, nursed it to maturity, it died this spring .
Coyote Hills RP, Fremont, CA July 23, 2014
Very low water levels at Horseshoe Lake in Mammoth due to the ongoing drought in California, on July 9, 2014.
Tuolumne Meadows, Calif. on July 5, 2014.
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