Aerial View of Drought-Stricken States (18 photos)

Renowned aerial photographer George Steinmetz captured images of the devastating effects of the record drought in Texas, New Mexico, and Georgia.







1. Farmers are trying to sell their livestock at auction for two to three times less than their actual value. The material losses have exceeded billions of dollars, and the emotional toll is daunting to even imagine. (George Steinmetz for TIME)

2. Geological Survey workers measure streamflow in the Little River near Hayra, Georgia. This summer's streamflow was among the lowest on record. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



3. A boat lies forlornly in the bed of a dry creek that feeds Lake Travis, Texas. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



4. Rain typically washes away dust, dirt, and sand that accumulate on power lines, but due to this summer's severe drought, some power companies are resorting to hiring special helicopters that use thousands of liters of water in the cleaning process. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



5. A few green lawns brighten a residential area between Austin and San Antonio. Some restrictions on household water use are being implemented in southern US cities. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



6. The Island Resort on Lake Travis typically resembles a peninsula, almost completely surrounded by water. The lake's water level has dropped significantly, leaving the resort, along with its boat docks, on dry land. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



7. About a year ago, a fire completely destroyed a section of forest in the Bosque Del Apache Wildlife Refuge, and it hasn't recovered since. The nearby fields are heavily irrigated. (George Steinmetz for TIME



8. Many large companies spend huge amounts of money watering the grass on their sports fields. On others, the grass dries out and turns brown, like these soccer fields near Austin. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



9. Boat docks lie in the dry bed of the Pedernales River in Texas. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



10. Drought has ruined the watermelon crop in south Georgia. Farm workers are planting new crops in hopes of a harvest, though hope is slim. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



11. A light rain was enough to revive the grass along a road in south Georgia, but not enough to save the damaged crops (left).



12. On the Lake Travis, only one of 11 boat launch platforms is currently operational. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



13. The water level in Elephant Butte Reservoir in the Rio Grande Valley, New Mexico, has dropped to a critical level. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



14. Boat docks lie along the banks of a shallow creek that feeds Lake Travis. The lake's water level has already dropped by 8 meters (George Steinmetz for TIME)



15. Lamar Weiss of Pflugerville, Texas, clears away the damaged sorghum crop he grew for his cattle. The 84-year-old farmer says this is the worst drought he's seen since 1956. "The field is still green, but it hasn't produced a crop." (George Steinmetz for TIME)



16. Golf courses in the New Mexico desert need ample watering. With the advent of the drought, conflicts and scandals over water consumption have erupted. (George Steinmetz for TIME)



17. Drought has destroyed much of the pasture and watering holes. Many farmers are forced to sell their animals early. These sheep and goats will be auctioned in San Angelo, Texas. (George Steinmetz for TIME)