Poll: Most Californians Support Mandatory Water Rationing

A new poll finds nearly all Californians think the state's drought is serious -- and there's growing support for mandatory water rationing.

Ninety-four percent of voters surveyed by the Field Poll says California's water shortage is serious. 68 percent say it's extremely serious.

Currently, the state is asking Californians to voluntarily reduce their water usage by 20 percent, and according to the poll, most Californians -- about six in ten -- support that. About a third of voters say they support mandatory rationing -- an increase of seven points since just last year.

When it comes to water storage, just one in ten believe the state's facilities are more than adequate. Roughly half of those asked say they support the idea of relaxing government restrictions on developing new storage facilities on parklands and forest reserves.  

The Field Poll also found that about half would also support relaxing environmental regulations that protect fish and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in dry years.