Comment by brudgers
1 hour ago
In much of the US, water is a common good and there are no water rights.
There is no sane system of water rights which is why there are cotton fields in Arizona.
1 hour ago
In much of the US, water is a common good and there are no water rights.
There is no sane system of water rights which is why there are cotton fields in Arizona.
Out west, water rights are based in common law, sometimes formalized by legislation. And common law is based on how miners and prospectors resolved water conflicts while panning for gold.
While there may be no sane system, the legacy of "first come, first serve" and ",use it or lose it" is particularly insane.