Dave Cogdill in the San Francisco Chronicle:

Water issues in California are divisive. Decades ago, water disputes were settled at the end of a gun, and even today policymakers use terms like “water wars.” But what are we fighting over? So many of these battles are simply a natural result of dwindling supplies in the face of increasing needs. Environmentalists want water to restore habitats and protect endangered species. Builders want water to sustain development and growth. Farmers want water to grow their crops. Average Californians want water for their homes and watering their lawns. But what makes no sense is the fact that we are fighting over a completely renewable resource.

Instead of fighting, we should develop a way to manage this resource responsibly and maximize the usage of the water resources we have.