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.

Summary: This article focuses on the precise laws in California surrounding water rights. California is the largest state in terms of water consumption given the thousands of acres of agriculture throughout the state. There are two different types of water rights in the state of California: riparian and appropriative. Riparian rights do not require permits or any legal actions, they permit landowners to use waterways that cross through their land. Appropriative have “the force of law” and are used for commercial and industrial operations. This dual-rights system has caused many issues. Owners who hold riparian rights are not required to put the water to good use, and often abuse this power, while appropriative owners are forced to put the water to good use. 

Reaction: This article helped me get an introduction to water rights in California. The dual-rights system is important for landowners but is under a lot of scrutiny. This surprised me because a cooperation with access to a large amount of water should not be issued a permit without proof of how they will use the water. It seems counterintuitive to argue with smaller land owners holding riparian rights because they are most likely using a lot less water.