The Pros And Cons Of Water Rights In The State Of California

In the his brief but effectual article “The Wrong Way to Think about California Water”, the author Michael Hiltzik presents to the reader “a guide to the wrong ways to think about California water, and the glimmer of a better way”(Hiltzik). In the short piece, Hiltzik argues that the current debate on how California should be spending its meager allowance of water during the current drought is being thoroughly misguided. Hiltzik writes that people should stop criticizing businesses that consume “large” amounts of water, rather, the water already being used should be utilized more efficiently and effectively. “The only lasting solutions include creating a better-functioning water market with transparent pricing and transfers, so that water

In my opinion, Yuma farmers should keep their existing water rights because they are big farmers of lettuce. Lettuce is one of the most popular vegetable in the United States. A fact that proves claim #1 is in paragraph 1. It says that if you eat lettuce at Thanksgiving to April than it is most likely from Yuma. So if they cut Yuma's water supply, the lettuce might die. If the lettuce dies, than there is going to be a lettuce shortage. Another fact from the article is in the section that is titled "Older Rights Means more Water." In this section, it staits that Yuma has one of the oldest water rights which leads to more water. If their rights were taken away, then you wouldn't have the leafy greens that you love during late fall, winter, or

The local agriculture groups do not want the state to manage the groundwater based on their management of the surface water (cite). So far, all the proposed plans have the local entities being in charge of their groundwater. Governor Brown has proposed his “Water Action Plan”, which is a series of actions that the local entities should perform. Another significant proposal is bill SB-1168, which is making its rounds in legislation and is authored by Senator Pavley. Each plan has its own merits that will be explored.

Established in 1888, the Brown’s Valley Irrigation District is one of YCWA’s eight local water districts. We obtain water under contract from YCWA and then provide that water for agricultural purposes in an area of Yuba County that spans nearly 87 square miles, with approximately 1,500 installed connections. YCWA provides this essential water supply by actively controlling and storing water at New Bullards Bar Reservoir, which enables us to convey it to

When groundwater overdraft was experienced, private pumpers would “acquire rights against one another by the continued act of pumping, without regard to seniority or the location of use.” (prfane). However, this doctrine raised several questions and problems. It was not until the case of City of Los Angeles vs. City of San Fernando, that the doctrine of mutual prescription was limited. This case defined overdraft as “the condition when withdrawals exceed both safe yield and temporary surplus,” but more importantly, it declared that equitable appointment was more important than mutual prescription. In other words, all water rights “must be subject to reasonable conditions and priorities” (prfane).

Water control in California has always been problematic. Long drafts and severe floods show the coming of the state’s and world’s changing climate regional differences in water existence and demand for water. “A vast network of storage and conveyance facilities delivers water from the wetter parts of the state to population and farming centers in the Bay area, Southern California and the Sun Joaquin Valley. This network is now threatened by the physical and biological fragility of the system’s hub in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.” (2015) California is also living through one of the worst droughts in

Water is essential to sustain life. It is becoming an ever more valuable resource every year as it becomes scarcer. The general problem is that California is in the midst of a severe drought. The specific problem is that the typical urban consumer has little knowledge of how to reduce their every day consumption of water. Urban usage accounts for approximately 5.7 million acre-feet per year, which equates to approximately 10% of California’s annual water supply in a year with normal precipitation (Burt, 2014). In this previous water year (October 1, 2013 - September 30, 2014) California experienced its driest year in 119 years (Ca.Gov/Water Conditions). Serious action needs to be taken immediately to reduce consumptive usage, especially in the case of urban consumption of water. Shakespeare famously said “I to the world am like a drop of water that in the ocean seeks another drop”. While each individual may believe their actions to be insignificant, in the bigger picture, California needs every drop it can get.

The state of California is in the decision of regulating water or not, and farmers are fighting against the regulation of water, while citizens are with the law for limiting the water they use. Based on the citizen’s point of view they want to limit the water they use every day because they wouldn’t like to have no water for months. In my opinion, I support farmers’ decision, I believe there should not be regulation of groundwater. Groundwater is the most important source that we have, and citizens are scared of losing our main source. However, groundwater is more useful for farmers because thanks to that they are able to do their plantation and be able to keep our food fresh.

California is going through the worse drought it has faced in many decades. It is not just the lack of rain we received last year, but poor management of our water resources which worsen the drought. The mere idea of running out of water is not to be taken lightly, only a small amount on our planet is safe for human consumption; keeping that in mind Californians must face the necessity to rationalize water in order to cope with the concurrent crisis. The practice of rationing will help maintain water levels. The expected result of this calamity is water shortages and a major impact in the agricultural level across our entire state. The public needs to realize their need to start conserving water. A major turning point capable of making the

The farmers concerns needs to be shifted on the resources that is available to them. Although federal laws are restricting farmers water intakes. The water that is still available to them, should and can be properly can be used for the best of its ability by being properly portioned. The current conditions that California’s land is currently facing, farmers cannot afford to crop plants that they have been previously cropping. The future of farmers success in the agricultural field is based on how willing they are willing to adapt to their current situation.

However, through some negotiation, BVID’s neighboring districts agreed to share some water if we were indeed curtailed, but only as a very last resort.

Should the state control groundwater for farmers? California is in a drought right now and the state has made laws about how much groundwater a farmer could take for their land, but they are not happy about it. There should be laws against farmers being able to take as much water as they want because then we will run out of water for ourselves to shower, cook, clean, etc. Also dehydration and hunger will become a big problem.

Everyone has once bought a water bottle before, it’s an easy resource to rely on. Most don’t realize where that water is being collected from and how it does affect us. In ARTICLE 1 it states that “California residents are forced to cut back their water use”. That problem is due to the companies of water removing the public water of residents in California. Creating a strict environment in California in ARTICLE 1, it also states that “district

This project has Great risks. Farmers have invested a great deal into this project. Dale Kasler argues that in the 10 years this project has had; $850 million have gone into it with little to the outcome (1). Resulting farmers to worry about their decision of investing into this project. He also stresses the fact that “The project could double farmers’ water costs to as much as $400 per acre foot (1). This is an extremely large jump. In general the project’s main goal is to get water to the south and west of the Sacramento - San Joaquin Delta by digging two tuneles 90 miles north. These farmers were very faithful in the beginning but are now starting to loose hope in the project. A large portion of farmers have a great deal of farmland inoperable. Some can have as much as half of their farming land. This project needs to begin to show results soon or more land can become inoperable. These farmers do require a lot of water but it pays off with food

California recently implemented its new public policy of mandatory water conservation for lawns, hotels, and restaurants. This policy was passed because of the environmental conditions that are harming the state. This coincides with stage 1 of the policy cycle stage, agenda setting. In this stage, the problem is highlighted to the general public: California’s scarcity of water supply. California has experienced a water drought for four years, and water levels are reaching a critical low. “The past three years have been the driest three years in California history dating back to the Gold Rush. On Tuesday, the Sierra snowpack was at 13 percent of its historic average, and many of the state’s largest reservoirs were far below normal” (Rogers).