[quote=jamsvet]One thing that I will always wonder is why rice, one of the most water intensive crops, is grown in California deserts. We are the second largest rice producing state. [/quote]

Spoken like a true southern californian. Rice is not grown in CA deserts. It is grown in Northern Ca delta regions. Incase you are wondering where that is, it is the area where the largest two rivers of the state colide, just before entering the San Fran Bay area. Butte, colusa, sutter, yuba, yolo counties make up the bulk of rice growing in CA. Sacramento area rivers drain all the water flowing west out of the Sierra Nevada, and they carry ALOT of water. This area recieves more than enough water in CA rainy season to not be considered a desert, unlike socal, and is the natural drain pipe for the mountains where a majority of CA water falls.

If you want to question Ag water use, question the heavy use of water to grow alfalfa. But then that is used to feed our dairy cattle which produce the milk we all drink (think of the childern!!!), the beef we eat, and the horse industry, plus a few other smaller industries. Plus farmers have historic rights to much of this water ( called water rights) and produce a necessary product for societal use, its called food.

Alot of other people think a green lawn is a god given right and all that produces is yard work and contaminated beaches from all the pesticies and fertalizers. Lets see which is more important…