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We used to spend effort on water management that we do not do, any longer. Those efforts had results, the lack of which isn't mentioned in "historic flood / worst ever drought" stories.

"Conspiracy theory" would be to suggest that these efforts were intentionally co-ordinated from the start to empower someone or something; I think its just normal human FUBAR politics.

I am not OP, but I believe the red herring they are pointing out is that maintenance of legacy systems by someone other than legacy maintainers led to disasters. Call it privatization, change, etc., the sentiment remains. As far as scapegoats relative to global climate change go, it is a relatively minor point that only focuses on reported issues (sharpshooter fallacy) and ignores the other evidence for climate change in favor of a minimal gish gallop of alternative hypotheses and tangents.

Ah OK, I guess the line of reasoning is that if the low water levels were due to low maintenance, then maybe there isn't really a drought.

Of course the enormous fires last year and the potential for a severe fire season this year suggests this line of reasoning is incorrect.

Thanks!

A conspiracy theory.