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It really comes down to living in a society with competing interests. Society has decided that protecting the last salmon is somewhat important. I say somewhat because central valley farmers are HEAVILY subsidized by the state and federal government and still to get to take the lions share of the water to grow water intensive crops on the desert heat.
What's that old saying? "When you are used to privilege, equality feels like oppression".
While residents have cut back on their water use by 50% or more in SoCal, Central Valley farmers increased their water use over the past 2 decades. Agriculture now represents 80%+ of the water use in CA, but only about 3% of its economy.
If they were growing food with all that water, people might give a damn. But they're not; they're growing alfalfa for export to feed pigs and livestock in other countries that are smart enough not to waste their water on feed crops.