I do wish that "Silicon Valley" would have been elsewhere less useful, though. As mentioned, before it became the tech hub, the Santa Clara valley was extremely productive agricultural land that is now paved over.
Out west, water rights are based in common law, sometimes formalized by legislation. And common law is based on how miners and prospectors resolved water conflicts while panning for gold.
While there may be no sane system, the legacy of "first come, first serve" and ",use it or lose it" is particularly insane.
A trip to Palm Springs is an eye-opener. You see so many sidewalks being watered at all hours of the day, and the water just flowing right into the drains. Such a shame in a desert area.
Water in California IS plentiful! But 85% of the water that is used is used by agriculture, leaving people and businesses to fight over the rest. Also, water "saved" in homes actually does not save any water, because it then gets used on a farm. Each gallon Californians reduce in homes produces one additional almond, but it gets used either way.
What's worse is that California is effectively exporting 40% of the water in the form of agricultural products. That is, half the food produced is exported. California sells their water, much like oil, to the rest of the world. And half of the exports are foreign exports (rather than to another state).
Did you know California exports a very large amount of rice to Asia? There are rice paddies surrounding Sacramento.
jhbadger · · focus · HN ↗
quantified · · focus · HN ↗
_rend · · focus · HN ↗
pfdietz · · focus · HN ↗
fmajid · · focus · HN ↗
brudgers · · focus · HN ↗
There is no sane system of water rights which is why there are cotton fields in Arizona.
btilly · · focus · HN ↗
While there may be no sane system, the legacy of "first come, first serve" and ",use it or lose it" is particularly insane.
kelnos · · focus · HN ↗
More frustrating is all the water waste due to "use it or lose it" type policies around commercial and agricultural water allocations.
mlmonkey · · focus · HN ↗
Nifty3929 · · focus · HN ↗
What's worse is that California is effectively exporting 40% of the water in the form of agricultural products. That is, half the food produced is exported. California sells their water, much like oil, to the rest of the world. And half of the exports are foreign exports (rather than to another state).
Did you know California exports a very large amount of rice to Asia? There are rice paddies surrounding Sacramento.