Recommended reading: Cadillac Dessert: The American West and its Disappearing Water, by Marc Reisner. As a native of Los Angeles (don't blame me, I left there 40 years ago!) I know this as a prime example of corrupt politicians (an oxymoron?) stealing water to create a city that shouldn't exist except for the water. There's enough water to go around, but it's the distribution that's the problem. Now in Seattle we are in an official drought - Los Angeles has had more rain this year than Seattle! - so you can't take anything for granted.

Cheers, S. in Seattle