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5: Water as a Resource and as a conflict
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Learning Objectives
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Identify the major sources of water California.
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Recognize California's fluctuating water supply.
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Identify the major concerns related to California's water sources.
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Understand a brief history of the Los Angeles Aqueduct & Water Wars.
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5.1: Introduction
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California's water resources are crucial to its development, supporting over 39 million people and irrigating vast farmland. The state's water system is the world's largest and most controversial, managing over 40 million acre-feet annually. Water rights are politically divisive, exacerbated by climate change predicting more droughts and alterations in precipitation. Debates focus on whether to redistribute water for urban and agricultural needs.
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5.2: Sources for Californias Water
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California's water supply is primarily sourced from surface water and groundwater, driven by rainfall and snowpack. However, these resources are increasingly unreliable, leading to initiatives like desalination, exemplified by Catalina Island, which uses a mix of underground aquifers and desalinated seawater. Groundwater, vital during droughts, faces challenges like overdraft, contamination, and subsidence. Surface water management is complex.
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5.3: California Water Wars
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The California Water Wars were a series of conflicts over water rights between Los Angeles and Owens Valley farmers. As LA expanded in the late 19th century, it needed more water, leading Fred Eaton and William Mulholland to redirect water from Owens Valley via an aqueduct. Tensions arose as water was diverted, drying Owens Lake and transforming the valley's landscape. Local farmers rebelled, leading to sabotage incidents in the 1920s. By 1928, Los Angeles secured most water rights in the area.