Community, farmers face water cut-off after California drought decision

A Northern California community already is faced with losing its water supply after the drought-stricken state took the drastic step of suspending water-access rights established as far back as 1903.

The State Water Resources Control Board announced the move June 12, suspending access to water for 114 so-called senior rights-holders, all in hardest-hit Northern California.

The community of Mountain House, about an hour east of San Francisco, is now days away from running out of water, according to local reports. That's because its only supplier, the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District, was one of the senior rights-holders put on notice Friday.