Aridification is the progression of an area that once experienced regular rainfall events with occasional droughts to one where rainfall events are fewer and further between, and the number of droughts increases and become longer. Eventually, the entire region becomes excessively and irreversibly drier and warmer than in the past. 

Aridification is now impacting large areas of California and the western half of the United States.

View it as a call to action. We must use water responsibly and efficiently.

Here are more images of aridification, waterways which have now dried up.  This is usually a permanent situation.