[Straw]

A state is an entity with a monopoly on coercion. The tribal nations do not have this- while they have some carve-outs, ultimately federal law trumps theirs. So its not a matter of recognition, they simply do not meet my definition of a state.

Nominally is exactly right! The treaties have been violated many times.

You're missing the 1959-61 famine in China! Sure, famines have happened for other causes. Typically 100+ years ago before technology advanced. Now, famines largely come from poor governance.

Thanks for the background info!

Yes, I agree it is a patchwork system- and its probably quite difficulty to analyze! I'm arguing that a private ownership model with trading would lead to better outcomes, and basically end for all practical purposes water shortages.

For example, the smaller mostly Hispanic farmers you described above wouldn't lose their water rights in a rights ownership system- they could hold them, rent them out, sell them etc. But they wouldn't lose them merely for being unable to farm. Of course, water rights are a resource rent and it might be desirable to tax them as well- effectively economically partially public ownership- but this doesn't change the core argument about the efficiency of tradable rights.