The LA Times has had two stories in two days that nicely frame a lot of the water issues in CA. They’re both about pumping. At opposite ends of the spectrum. The first is on the $25 billion tunnel around/under the Delta, and the other on the major water savings created by the latest in super-efficient micro irrigation, which pumps water right to the roots of plants.
California plan to overhaul water system hub to cost $25 billion:
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-delta-cost-20130530,0,3249093.story
Farmers turn to drip-tape irrigation to save water:
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-drip-tape-irrigation-20130530,0,3088370.story
