In the heart (central) of California is a flat area with miles and miles of farms and up to 230 different crops. Central Valley agriculture is essential to the United States; not only does it provide almost half of production, but it also contributes to the economy by providing more employment opportunities (California Department of Food and Agriculture, 2014). Many families depend on Central Valley agriculture to survive economically in the United States. It is well known that rain and snow in the Sierra Nevada Mountains are a very important feature in the Central Valley. A lack of rain in the Central Valley can quickly cause many devastating problems. Most recently, in 2013, California received less precipitation than in previous years. The small amount of water the Central Valley receives harms not only the land, but also humans and animals. This destroys animal habitats with forest fires caused by periods of drought that occur. The Central Valley is going through a drought, so much so that at this time of year the Central Valley generally accumulates enough rain for the valley's necessities, such as agriculture. This year, however, the situation was different: the central valley did not receive enough water, causing a drought in the valley. Water is an important element in this world not only for human life but also for the environment in general, a shortage of water supply can lead to problems for the environment and those who live in it. The Central Valley has the largest percentage of Class 1 soils, and in addition, the Valley produces one-third of all produce grown in the United States, accounting for more than 230 crops grown in the Central Valley. However, this drought is not only affecting residents...... middle of paper ...... http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brad-wilmouth/2009/05/09/fnc-drought- stricken farmers lose fight and fish face extinction • California Department of Food and Agriculture (2014). California Farm Production Statistics Retrieved from http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/California Farm Water Coalition. (2014). Learn more about the impacts of the 2014 drought. Retrieved from http://new.farmwater.org/new/learn-more-about-2014-drought-impacts/• Campbell E., Durisin M. (2014) . California farms are thirsty as drought burns a $5 billion hole. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-01-29/california-farms-going-thirsty-as-drought-burns-5-billion-hole.html• National Drought Mitigation Center . (2014). Types of Drought Impacts Retrieved from http://drought.unl.edu/DroughtforKids/HowDoesDroughtAffectOurLives/TypesofDroughtImpacts.aspx