J.T.,
One slight correction to you those who pay get what they want. About a month ago there was a demand from the big money factions down South for more water from Shasta Lake. They never got it as there isn't any. In fact they may be crying for electricity soon if we don't get some rain as they are talking of having to shut down at least one of the generators and maybe two. Boy, will their lives be rough then. No water to fill their pools and limited electricity to cool their mansions. Here we have had the water patrol a couple of years and now they are thinking of bring it back. If your lawn is green or they find out you washed a car the fine is $500 for the first time I think it used to be. Just not a lot of water left in the lake right now, no matter how many pictures they show near the dam where it is the deepest. No amount of money is going to get what isn't there.
Why don't they spend some of their billions and build some desalination plants down there? That is all that Saudi Arabia has for fresh water and they work.
Ron