Water policy in the western USA Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Water policy in the western USA - Essay Example According to the 2000 population census, the population of western United States including cities like California continues to rise and this increases the pressure on water. As the demand for the precious commodity increases, the need for the state governments to develop policies that can protect and ensure its equitable distribution also increases. This paper will discuss the elements of water policies and the process of developing the same policies in western United States especially in the states of California (Von der Portena & De Loà «, 2014). The process of developing water policies is affected by a number of factors, which vary from one state to another, and is influenced by the extent of water demand and use in the region. The terrain and geographical position of California makes it vulnerable to water problems and conflicts and these have been solved through the development of water policies. The enactment of federal laws and regulations has also acted as a way of mitigating the conflicts and bringing together different economically warring factions. The development of water policies in the west especially in California is influenced by a number of factors which are intrinsic to California only. The constant earthquakes and catastrophic events that are common in California have continuously disrupted water supplies to different parts of the state. As a result, the formulation of policies has been influenced by these events and how they have affected the normal water use in the state. According to the United States geological survey, there is a 99% likelihood of a major earthquake in the southern parts of the state according to information from the last three decades. It is only in northern California that the risk is a bit lower but still disrupts the normal water supply and use in the state (Von der Portena & De Loà «, 2014). Earthquakes results into damage and the disruption of water