"america tonight"s michael oku in the imperial valley on the crisis. >> you couldn't necessarily knows is a barren wasteland. every place i look there's water. there's water down to my right and water down to my left as far as the eye can see >>> a closer look@ -- look at california in crisis. whose water is it anyway? >>> that's correct for joining us of all the demand keeping california from going with the flow, farms face the toughest accusations of draining away the state's precious resource. and that is water. california is now in the fourth year of an unprecedented drought, mandatory water cuts took effect, environmentalists sued the state, charging it with favouring farms over fish. and other wildlife. now the fight really is on, as "america tonight"s michael oku found california grappling with a touch question - whose water is it. you are looking at santa barbara, anything but a lagoon these days. nothing much to see, except some weeds. another casualty of the drought. >> it's bone dry, bone dry. >> carol lee says residents and businesses are paying the price for a 3-year seve

the fight is on as "america tonight"s michael oku found.ifornia grappling with a tough question. whose water is it. you are looking at santa barbara, anything but a lagoon these days. nothing much to see, except some weeds. another casualty of the drought. >> it's bon dry, bone dry. >> carol lee says residents and businesses are paying the price for a severe dry spell. >> we have been given small allocations, and if we go over them we are fined hely. >> what is re heavily? >> i was told for example, that there are some heavy user paying $50,000 a month. >> 50,000. >> in fines. >> reporter: in fines. statewide communities are forced to cut consumption or face fines, with an exception. you want to see water usage on steroids go out to the dry desert regions like the imperial valley. >> reporter: university of colorado san diego professor steve erie is an expert on water use. agriculture has been hit badly, that may be in portions of the central valley it's not the case on the colorado, with the impeeria valley. >> this is where he's talking a

"america tonight"s michael oku