California Closing in on Water Management Solution? Maybe Not...

Following up on this post, it seems I was overly optimistic about the California legislature's ability to address the state's growing water crisis. They've made almost no progress since I last posted on this, and it doesn't look like they will anytime soon. As the Los Angeles Times reports:

Lawmakers have been chewing over water legislation for weeks, unable to seal a final deal despite threats from the governor, weekend negotiating sessions and their own deep desire to disprove the widespread perception that they can't get anything done.

Unusually for California's legislature, the sticking points aren't all falling along partisan lines so much as aligning with regional interests.

Some Bay Area Democrats, who could be expected to back a leadership proposal, have withheld support over delta provisions they fear could ultimately cost local districts water.

Republicans, fiercely fighting some of the fine-print details, rolled out their own version of the bill Tuesday, frustrating Democrats who say they've already compromised enough.

The endorsement of some of the biggest players in delta and water politics has not even assured passage.

At this point, it's impossible to predict what form the eventual solution will take. Or even if any major changes will be approved. In the end it just proves the old adage that all politics are local, and none more so in California than water rights.