A Short History of Water Issues in California

"Whiskey is for drinkin', water is for fightin' over" - Mark Twain

Twain’s words still ring true more than a century after he wrote them.  California and its constant need for water is a continual issue, one that has been around since the first settlers. 

According to the “Liquid Gold Exhibit” on the UC Berkeley website,

“The fundamental controversy surrounding California's water is one of distribution, over both distance and time, combined with conflicts between competing interests over the use of available supplies. About 75 percent of the water supply originates in the northern third of the state (north of Sacramento), while 80 percent of the demand occurs in the southern two-thirds of the state. The demand for water is highest during the summer when there is little rainfall or snowmelt. California's fickle climate also leads to extended periods of drought followed by flooding.”

Most of Californians live in the south where there is a lack of water.  This leaves southern Californians dependent on outside sources from the Colorado River, northern California, and other rivers outside the state.

For more information on the history of water in California click here