California must reform water rights system

People need fish and clean water, not carpools. It is time to reform our water rights system. Recent articles in this paper have discussed the drought and proposals for actions such as trucking hatchery salmon. Discussions of real solutions, such as reassessing water rights for large farms, which use 80% of the state’s water but export crops, are not discussed.

These articles quote farmers, fishermen, even environmentalists that are worried about the salmon extinction, but they ignore Native people who say that salmon extinction is cultural genocide and the millions of Californians who still lack access to clean water, many of whom watch as almond orchards get clean water while they do not.

Who gets clean water in California is a social and racial justice issue. It is not about fish versus farms. The drought highlights the fact that California has to reassess its antiquated water rights systems. Cities and rivers should not be without water while farms floodirrigate grass.

California’s water rights system was created while Indian land was being taken. It was before people of color could vote or own land. It is racist and classicist and prioritizes corporations above clean water for cities, people and fish.

Regina Chichizola, Orleans, Humboldt Country