It's simmering a little lower now, but different groups in California have been fighting for water for at least 150 years, and the droughts of the past few years have pitted farmers against fishing in a battle for water. Both depend heavily on surface water, as salmon need to spawn and farmers need to water their fields. Recently California Senator Diane Feinstein, a Democrat, has chosen farmers over fish, promising to fight the Endangered Species Act in order to protect the livelihoods of farmers. Recent information shows that there will probably be enough water to go around this year, pushing the struggle onto the backburner for awhile, but resentment is already building, as shown in this editorial by a California State legislator.
On one hand, I definitely value people more than fish, but on the other hand, I know that people are more adaptable than fish. My personal response is that Sen. Feinstein is being short-sighted. Do you agree?
