California governor issues unprecedented water restrictions

For the first time in California's history the entire state will have to abide by strict water restrictions. Governor Jerry Brown announced an executive action Wednesday aimed at reducing water usage by 25 percent across the state.

The order comes as California enters its fourth year of a severe drought that is expected to persist into 2016. The state recently measured its lowest snowpack on record.

"We are standing on dry grass and we should be standing on five feet of snow," said Brown. "We're in a historic drought and that demands unprecedented action."

The execution action calls for replacing 50 million square feet of lawns throughout the state with drought tolerant landscaping; requires campuses, golf courses and other large landscapes to significantly cut water use; and it'll bar new homes and developments from watering "ornamental" grass on public street medians.

"People should realize we're in a new era," said Brown. "The idea of your nice little green grass getting lots of water every day, that's going to be a thing of the past. We're not going to change everything overnight but we are in a transition period. People have to realize that in many parts of California, they are living in a desert."

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