California regulators vote to restrict water access for thousands of farmers amid severe drought AFP via Getty Images Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images In this aerial photo houseboats sit in low water on Lake Oroville as California's drought emergency worsens By Ray Sanchez, Alexandra Meeks and Brisa Colón, CNN California water regulators voted Tuesday to restrict water access for thousands of Central Valley farmers as the state endures a severe drought. The California State Water Board unanimously agreed to issue an emergency order that bans some farmers from diverting water from rivers and streams in the Sacramento and San Joaquin river watersheds to irrigate their crops.