San Francisco (KRON) Dramatic new images of worsening California’s drought. The state Department of Water released new images from a number of California reservoirs.

The video shows Folsom, Oroville and Shasta reservoirs earlier this week.

New images show El Niño building up strength

California drought regulators sent the strongest signal yet that they’re serious about cracking down on water waste by proposing a first-of-its kind, $1.5 million fine against a group of farmers they say illegally took water.

The fine announced Monday by the State Water Resources Control Board is the first ever levied against an individual or district with senior rights that are more than a century old and have long provided immunity from mandatory conservation.

The fine follows months of unprecedented cutback orders to communities, businesses and the powerful agriculture industry during the fourth year of the devastating dry spell in California.

From the California Department of Water Resources website:

Scientists say there’s a 90-percent chance of a strong one forming in the Pacific this winter, but will rain fill Northern California reservoirs? State Climatologist Mike Anderson says this drama’s ending is still unwritten: “Unfortunately, even a strong El Niño doesn’t correlate to a particular outcome for California.” If this El Niño is a dud, California’s next spooky thriller may be just ahead: A Fifth Year of Drought! Photos of the State Water Project’s Lake Oroville and the Central Valley Project’s Folsom and Shasta lakes taken on July 20, 2015.