Source: Hall, Alexandra. “California Files Lawsuit to Block Trump Administration Delta Water Rules: KQED News.” KQED, 21 Feb. 1970, www.kqed.org/news/11802722/california-files-lawsuit-to-block-trump-administration-delta-water-rules.

Abstract: When Trump visited the central valley to celebrate more water being allocated to growers in the area, he was met with lawsuits that would prevent this from happening. These lawsuits were filed to ensure the safety of the delta smelt, an endangered species. California feels that moving more water to the growers will ultimately endanger other fish, such as salmon. Trump feels that this water will help California’s economy and will ultimately promote agricultural reform across the country. Although he was stopped almost instantly, he is still trying to send water in the direction of the central valley, and it is a priority of his to recognize the agriculture industry in California. 

Reaction: This article is super relevant. We talked about the smelt in class and the different ways to protect them. There are two sides to this lawsuit. The first is Trump’s side, where he is looking out for the people living in the central valley, and there is the California government, which is looking out for an endangered species. There is more to look into, but both sides have a valid point on why the water should go, or not, to the growers.

Source: “Africa, Decade, Water for Life, 2015, UN-Water, United Nations, MDG, Water, Sanitation, Financing, Gender, IWRM, Human Right, Transboundary, Cities, Quality, Food Security.” United Nations, United Nations, www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/africa.shtml.

Abstract: The title is ironic. It is a hook to draw the reader to show that there is barely a water supply for 50 years in many parts of Africa. This article is more statistics than anything. The most important stat is that there is only 61% current water coverage in Africa. The target number is 75%, which is a long way away given the circumstances in Africa when it comes to clean and safe water. Without continuous change, Africa slides into periods of stalling and little to no change. There are many issues that parallel the drought, such as food issues, economic issues, and climate change.  

Reaction: This article opened my eyes to the real problem. I work better with numbers than with words, and seeing statistics allows me to see the magnitude of a problem. As the problem progresses, there will be more countries that are willing to help, but there is no direct way to help. The regions in Africa that need attention are in unlucky locations. It is hard and expensive to get water flowing into these regions and could cost more than most can pay.

Source: Chrol, Jenna. “Water Rights in Africa.” The Borgen Project, Jenna Chrol Https://Borgenproject.org/Wp-Content/Uploads/The_Borgen_Project_Logo_small.Jpg, 20 June 2019, borgenproject.org/tag/water-rights-in-africa/.

Abstract: Water is scarce in many parts of Africa, but there are regions in which the little water that is there is being distributed poorly. This mainly happens in Sub-Saharan Africa, where farmers struggle to get water for their land. The main issue is explained perfectly in this quote: “Their operations are often too small to gain permits either because the government does not have the infrastructure to grant so many permits or farmers do not know to get them. Approximately half of sub-Saharan Africa governments use customary rights for water for home use and limited farm irrigation”. The problem with the approach is that the main economic benefactor in Africa is agriculture, and with less water being allocated for crops, there is less money coming into these small villages.

Reaction: When I thought of what to write for the world section of my adopt-a-topic I thought of the struggles in Africa to find safe and clean water. This directly shows why Africa is struggling with water and the distribution of it. With many countries in Africa, each run a different way, and it is close to impossible to get them all on the same page. Africa is in serious trouble in terms of finite resources, especially water. With little getting to the middle of the continent, the people living there begin to flee towards the water, which is primarily in the southern parts of Africa.

Source: Roy, Eleanor Ainge. “New Zealand River Granted Same Legal Rights as Human Being.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 16 Mar. 2019, www.theguardian.com/world/2017/mar/16/new-zealand-river-granted-same-legal-rights-as-human-being.

Abstract: This article inspired the article above and it provides the initial approach to marking a body of water as sacred. It took 140 years to negotiate this deal, while it took India about a week. The Maori tribe of Whanganui have been using the river since their creation, and have been pressing the New Zealand government for 140 years to mark their river as a living entity. Here is a quote from an anonymous tribe member:

“We have fought to find an approximation in law so that all others can understand that from our perspective treating the river as a living entity is the correct way to approach it, as in indivisible whole, instead of the traditional model for the last 100 years of treating it from a perspective of ownership and management.”

As the children in the tribe mature, they will be responsible for holding the rest accountable for their actions on or around the river. 

Reaction: This article is awesome. Although it took 140 years to finally get the law passed, it was a huge milestone for the world. This will inspire the creation of laws like these around the world, and hopefully in the U.S. at some point. Water rights are up to interpretation in many cases, but the government has the responsibility of taking care of all of its citizens and ensuring they are provided with a safe source of clean water. The U.S. will likely not implement human rights for a specific body of water, but they may consider the impact that larger bodies have on the population.

Source: Friedman, Lisa, and Coral Davenport. “Trump Administration Rolls Back Clean Water Protections.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 Sept. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/09/12/climate/trump-administration-rolls-back-clean-water-protections.html?searchResultPosition=1.

Abstract: Trump announced that he is repealing a major clean water regulation act that prevented the amount of harmful chemicals that could be used near large bodies of water. The act is known as the Waters of the United States rule and was implemented in 2015. It was set in place to further explain the Clean Water Act of 1972. Trump is passionate about pleasing farmers, especially those in the middle of the country, which is why he planned to repeal this rule before he became president. 

Reaction: I always question why. My focus for this phase is on the world, but this article is important to look at first. Many leaders look to the United States for approval and for example and the repeal of this rule will definitely turn heads globally. The times we are currently in call for much more drastic measures of water rights and protection given the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Summary: This article talked about the International Irrigation Conference. The first speaker started in an awful way. When John Wesley Powell stood up and said that there is not enough water to supply this region [California], the crowd booed and went into panic. The main issue that Powell pointed out was that there was plenty of water, but it is concentrated in areas where it is not fully accessible. This caused the whole conference to change paths, and instead of sticking to the agenda, they worked on ways to reform certain laws in the western regions. This actually turned out to be a positive turn of events for the conference and it led to a lot of great ideas.

Reaction: These are stories that change the world and change lives. Things going off course is not always a curse, and in this case it was a blessing. There are now a couple of plans in the works for reforming water rights in California and how to access this large concentration of water. This conference is held annually to talk about the issues surrounding water rights in specific areas, and the main focus this year was California and the western region. It is important to notice the issues involving water around the globe, but being from California it is more important to look at what is going on around us.

Summary: This article explains that many Californians do not have access to water. It focuses on the Latino farmer population. Many immigrants are unable to access clean water due to racial stereotypes and pesticides. The article focused mainly on the San Joaquin Valley and the struggles there. He interviewed and attorney who works on water rights issues, and the attorney stated, “Flint is everywhere here…It’s brown water for brown people”. This was a big issue for Del Real and he began to look further into the issue. He found that more than 300 water systems in California do not even meet public safety standards. This find was crucial for his article and the water rights issues at hand. 

Reaction: This article caught my attention because of the title. I knew that there would be race involved in this article, but I did not expect 300 water systems in CA to not meet public safety standards. This article goes beyond water rights, it expands into public health and the effect that big corporations can have on smaller communities. I would love to look into this more and understand the full effect on the San Joaquin Valley.

Summary: This article described a dispute between Donald Trump and Cal Fire. Trump believed that the water used to fight the fires was being misused. He was confused because the issue he was actually commenting on was between farmers and environmentalists. He felt that a comment was necessary to show that he was current on these issues. Unfortunately he was not, and it resulted in a lot of backlash. One positive thing that came out of this was recognition of water rights and their importance to our state. Trump may have been mistaken, but he was properly taking care of what he thought was a massive issue. 

Reaction: This article was not a normal article for me. This was the political side of this issue and it brought up a lot of thoughts in my head. I wonder how much control the government has over state water rights and how hard it can be to get these laws changed or overturned. I noticed in this article that it was bashing Trump for his comments. He may have been under informed on the issue, but he was standing up for the environment and the water usage in California.

Summary: This article relates more to wildlife in California and their protection. The first part of water rights is limiting consumption, and the second is preserving wildlife and habitats. Before issuing any license, the California State Water Resources Control Board(SWRCB) must consult with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). This is to ensure that not only the water is conserved, but the surrounding wildlife as well. This article also described many of the impacts of commercial operations on wildlife. Erosion is the main issue. Rivers are a common place for operations, and without proper equipment and planning, soil erosion can cause major blockages in the flow of water, and ultimately affecting biodiversity.

Reaction: This article was very interesting and important. I am now fully informed on California water rights and how to obtain specific rights and permits. I had wondered about the effect on animals and fish, and this article explained it clearly. Knowing that there is protection for surrounding habitats and animals makes me more comfortable with standing behind this cause. Water rights are important everywhere, but especially in California.