San Joaquin Valley
Westlands Irrigation District wields major clout in California water wars
Submitted by admin on Sat, 11/21/2009 - 01:00The most powerful voices in the state's recent $11 billion water talks might have been two water districts – one speaking for half the state's population and the other for just 600 San Joaquin Valley farmers.
The negotiations led to legislation with the promise of epic change – restoring dying fisheries, building dams and easing gridlock that has dogged water system improvement for decades.
It made sense that Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which serves 19 million people, would wield big political clout in those talks. But who are those 600 farmers?
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