he Southern California area. At the same time, Mayor Bradley announced a city proposal for water rationing which includes penalties imposed by the Department of Water and Power for those who use water wastefully.
A major geographic characteristic of Los Angeles is the fact that there are no substantial supplies of water located in the surrounding area. As a result, man-made aqueducts must be used to bring water into Los Angeles from outside sources. Unfortunately, these other sources of water are currently being depleted by the severe drought which is affecting the entire state. The lack of water in the local area is being made worse by the low amount of rainfall which has occurred so far this year (Ellis A18). Lack of snowfall is another environmental factor which plays an important role in the current water crisis. The Department of Water and Power obtains most of its water from snow as it melts in the Eastern Sierra Mountains. However, surveyors for the DWP have noted that the Sierra snowcap is 87 percent lower than usual this year. The drought, combined with the lack of rain and snowfall, has created a serious constraint on the amount of water which is available to the city of Los Angeles this year (Fritsch A23). Because there is less water available this year than usual, the need for water rationing has become an important public issue for the residents of Los Angeles.
individuals and Organizations Involved in the Issue
The issue of water rationing in Los Angeles reflects a struggle for the region's water supply. This struggle involves a variety of rival factions, such as agricultural interests versus city dwellers, and the interests of Northern California versus Southern California (Skelton A29). In addition, there are several local, state, and federal organizations involved in the water supply issue. The leaders of these organizations all have their own perspectives on the issue as well as their own stakes ...