[vondur]

Owens valley is basically dried up from the water that LA takes. It's interesting as you drive in the towns in the Valley and you see all the LA Department of Water and Power offices over 200 miles from Los Angeles. The courts had to force the LA DWP to quit taking too much water from the streams that feed Mono Lake as it was in danger of drying out.

[kenhwang]

Yep, Owens valley is basically an environmental disaster created by LA. So in the grand scheme of things, buying water from NorCal is better than stealing from the Owens valley through antiquated water rights.

But really, California (and really the entire Western US) needs a water rights governance overhaul. Right now the focus is all on urban water use, which is practically negligible compared to the agricultural water rights usage.

[Spooky23]

That's a money play too. Some of the best farmland in the world is now the endless subarban Boston->DC corridor.

We created the miracle on the desert, and billions were made in real estate.

[paradox460]

Much easier to tell Joe homeowner he's not allowed to have a lawn than to close down the country club. Where would the rich relax then?

[ashdksnndck]

The country club is also negligible compared to agriculture. Farmers are politically not an attractive punching bag though.

[rayiner]

It’s funny how the above comment reveals exactly why the problem is politically intractable.

[kjkjadksj]

It isn’t dried up, they maintain a certain water level in the various lakes.

[bronson]

The lake is completely dried up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Owens_Lake And other lakes in the area are in really bad shape.

[kjkjadksj]

I disagree I drive through there every winter and the lakes are very large. The ecology of the valley is dry but nowhere near as dry as say the mojave just to the south.

[bronson]

Mojave was a desert. Owens Lake was huge. Your comparison doesn't make sense

What natural lakes in the region are still "very large"?