The chapter talks about the agricultural core in the United States. One of the sections they focused on is the waterways which are very crucial to the development and progress of agriculture anywhere. Pretty much after the gold fever in California, the state started to focus on the agriculture and became very successful. By 1940, Los Angeles became number one in agricultural county in the country. This agricultural success is due to the importation of water to the land. Los Angeles was pretty much a desert back then, but with the help of water we are able to make this dry land very fertile and fruitful. Sadly, our water resources do last. During 1980 LADWP water source was mostly coming from Owens and Mono (80%). Now, only about less than 25% of our water comes from the Owens and Mono. We took too much water from Owens Lake that it actually dried up which causes many environmental and health problems in California and as well as Nevada. The lake dried up and the traditional winds carries off the alkaline dust to the air. Toxic to our lungs. DWP was taken to court and forced them to restore the lake and its ecosystem, also to reduce the dust. Many Californians out here don't know how to conserve water. Water is the most valuable commodity especially in places like California and other drier states. We have to be aware that we are taking our water in Los Angeles from a far natural source. The problem in Owens Lake shows that water is not at all unlimited and should be respected.
Here is a video showing the alkali dust near Owens...scary actually!
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