Drought from above

Drought from above

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In Palm Springs houses with swimming pools border verdant green golf courses in the midst of a desert landscape. With its warm and largely rain-free climate, the town is a renowned destination for retirees.

Now, as California enters a fourth year of severe drought, the community faces swingeing cuts to their water use. Governor Jerry Brown has ordered an overall 25 percent cut in urban water use though the first statewide mandatory reductions in California's history.

. LA QUINTA, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Communities where residential customers use the most water would have to cut back by 36 percent, under a plan proposed by the State Water Resources Control Board.

The state's upscale communities have been criticised for using more water than working-class cities and towns as the state grapples with the devastating drought.

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Slideshow

A tractor collects golf balls on a driving range.
. PALM SPRINGS, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A tractor collects golf balls on a driving range.

A golf course is seen in La Quinta.
. LA QUINTA, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A golf course is seen in La Quinta.

A fairway, green and bunkers are surrounded by arid landscape.
. LA QUINTA, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A fairway, green and bunkers are surrounded by arid landscape.

A man looks for a golf ball in the desert next to a golf course.
. PALM SPRINGS, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A man looks for a golf ball in the desert next to a golf course.

Water flows into a lake on a golf course.
. LA QUINTA, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Water flows into a lake on a golf course.

A canal runs through a golf course.
. PALM SPRINGS, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A canal runs through a golf course.

A gardener walks across a golf course.
. LA QUINTA, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A gardener walks across a golf course.

Players walk near rows of parked golf buggies.
. LA QUINTA, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Players walk near rows of parked golf buggies.

Trees provide some shelter in a Palm Springs cemetery.
. PALM SPRINGS, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Trees provide some shelter in a Palm Springs cemetery.

Solar panels in rows are fenced off.
. PALM SPRINGS, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Solar panels in rows are fenced off.

A water storage facility is surrounded by homes.
. LA QUINTA, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

A water storage facility is surrounded by homes.

Rides at the Wet 'n Wild water park in Palm Springs include the green Sea Snake.
. PALM SPRINGS, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Rides at the Wet 'n Wild water park in Palm Springs include the green Sea Snake.

Homes with swimming pools and boathouses look on to an artificial lake.
. INDIO, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

Homes with swimming pools and boathouses look on to an artificial lake.

An artificial lake is the focal point for this development of homes in Indio near Palm Springs.
. INDIO, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

An artificial lake is the focal point for this development of homes in Indio near Palm Springs.

An umbrella is seen painted on dry grass.
. PALM SPRINGS, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

An umbrella is seen painted on dry grass.

. INDIO, United States. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson