Bob Mattila’s comments in his July 17 letter, “Lack of water deprives tree growth,” propose that we allow California to tap into the Columbia River. I strongly disagree.
As a former Los Angeleno, I know California’s ruthless history of water rights chicanery. Doubt this? Check out how the Los Angeles Aqueduct literally stole the water from Owens Lake, leaving an entire region bone dry and economically devastated. Currently, California’s rights to continue accessing the Colorado River are precarious. Judgment day is inevitable.
Much of California is semi-desert. However, land developers continued to build recklessly. Its residents have been deluded into thinking that because of its size and political power, people will always figure out a way to get more water.
As drought strips them of their delusions, to provide them with our water would only delay their acceptance that their current lifestyle cannot be maintained. If global warming continues, California will no longer be the bread basket of the nation. The Pacific Northwest will.
