Southern California farmers are doing an excellent job of diverting water from other parts of the state and other states for irrigation. Travelers are reminded with signs along the highways that say: "Water Grows Food and Clothes" (cotton fields) and "Food Grows Where Water Flows" (vegetables) like they invented the concept.

But just remember, water is not a renewable resource. We can grow new trees after the clear cut but no way can we develop new water. Water is the only element that exists in three forms: liquid, gas, and solid. The form depends on circumstances. Evaporation turns liquid into gas and rises to become clouds (when a molecule hangs on to a speck of dust). When the air changes temperature the gas becomes rain or snow and falls far from the source. So far we see rain drenching areas to the point of floods. Glaciers that feed into the mighty Columbia river are receeding at an alarming rate so snow isn't falling in all the right places either.

Water molecules go into the soil during rain of which California doesn't get enough when needed for crops. Irrigation spraying that takes place during daylight evaporates to a large degree. When the water tables are drawn down because of drained marshes or over pumping by wells, they cannot be renewed except by more rain held on the soil, or more irrigation.

We would do well to maintain as many marshes and wetlands as possible to secure the groundwater levels.