Photos of Oroville Lake Show the Severity of Northern California's Drought Emergency

California's Marin County became the first in the state to impose mandatory water-use restrictions beginning May 1. Residents will be ordered to refrain from washing cars at home, as well as refilling pools. Watering lawns only be allowed once a week.

The photos above show low water levels at Oroville Lake, which has dropped to 42% capacity, as well as the dwindling water levels at Nicasio Reservoir and the cracked earth that used to be the bottom of Lake Mendocino, where the water level has dropped to a historic low at 43% capacity.

State Sen. Mike McGuire called Lake Mendocino "the canary in the coal mine when it comes to California’s drought.” McGuire said he is working to propose a $2 billion budget proposal to address the drought, the Sacramento Bee reported.

California is now in its second year of drought after another winter with little precipitation. The state is also bracing for wildfire season, which is expected to be worsened by the drought.

Click through the slideshows above to see what the drought looks like in Mendocino and Sonoma counties.

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