Study Predicts Wildlife Die-Offs, Bigger Wildfires If California Drought Continues

(AP) - A new study says dying wildlife, bigger wildfires and dry farm towns will be the biggest problems if the drought persists in California.

The report by the non-profit Public Policy Institute of California anticipates the consequences if the four-year drought stretches into 2016 and 2017.

It says California cities and towns have learned the lessons of past droughts and are doing relatively well.

Researchers also say farmers have been able to pump well water to make up for having half as much surface water as normal for irrigation.

The policy center says the environment has been hardest hit by the drought. Researchers say 18 species of California fish are on the verge of extinction.