# Fact checking the claim that "California has plenty of water, we just let most of it run into the ocean." **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 16, 2026, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719 "2026-02-16T18:03:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/21 "2026-02-18T21:29:44Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Unless summers get cooler, so that less melts – but our climate does not seem to be moving in that direction. True, but the climate is uncertain about precipitation, Maybe less? Maybe more? Just recently, NorCal got about 3-4 feet of snow, however. > [@Ancient\_Nerd](#): > > The most cost-effective reservoir uses a dam across a canyon with a big river. Everything coming down the river gets caught behind the dam. Sadly, the Sierra Club- despite the fact that they generate CO2 free power- wants dams busted. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/22 "2026-02-19T00:33:01Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sadly, the Sierra Club- despite the fact that they generate CO2 free power- wants dams busted. Most dams don’t have hydroelectric generators and some that do don’t generate much power. There’s several other reasons dams were constructed. Also, after about 50 years, the reservoirs behind the dams get silted up, so they don’t perform whatever function they originally were constructed for very well. There’s something like 90,000 dams in the US. Many of them are old, no longer functioning, and should be removed. ---
**Author:** ![sunacres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@sunacres](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sunacres)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/23 "2026-02-19T00:33:19Z")
The idea that all of the water that falls in ANY area should be sequestered and any that isn’t is “wasted” is ludicrous. What’s more, the same retards that whine about “wasted” water are the most vocal proponents of perpetual growth. Magical thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/24 "2026-02-19T01:08:17Z")
Of course, we could prevent a lot more “wasted” water by putting stricter regulations on farms. A lot of them are still using inefficient irrigation methods that end up just evaporating a lot of water, just because they’ve always done it that way. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/25 "2026-02-19T01:29:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Of course, we could prevent a lot more “wasted” water by putting stricter regulations on farms. And saying NO to high water use crops in irrigated areas. or at least- permits. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/26 "2026-02-19T02:17:20Z")
Oh, and [Moderating] > [@sunacres](#): > > What’s more, the same retards … Let’s please avoid using the word “retard” as an insult here. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2026, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/27 "2026-02-19T06:09:54Z")
Before they started sequestering water to protect flow, the river ran out before it reached the delta. There was not ‘enough’ water to meet agricultural needs: it was all used up, and more was wanted. Water demand in the basin is elastic. The idea that there is “plenty” of water is at best meaningless. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/28 "2026-02-20T21:57:10Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sadly, the Sierra Club- despite the fact that they generate CO2 free power- wants dams busted. John Muir had a point back in 1913-1923. National parks were still pretty new. Building the Hetch-Hetchy dam in Yosemite could have set a precedent. Opposition to it was one of the founding principles of the Sierra Club. Many people disagree with their continuing desire to tear it down. The water from there is so clean that there is no need to add chlorine. The Sierra Club has some good programs. They organize hikes through nature. They work to keep industry honest. Their position on the Hetch-Hetchy dam is starting to sound like the Catholic Church’s position on Galileo. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/29 "2026-02-20T21:59:29Z")
> [@Ancient\_Nerd](#): > > The Sierra Club has some good programs. They organize hikes through nature. They work to keep industry honest. Their position on the Hetch-Hetchy dam is starting to sound like the Catholic Church’s position on Galileo. Not to mention their anti-nuclear power stance, and they fought hard against a solar power plant in the desert. ---
**Author:** ![Ancient\_Nerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed655f/32.png) [@Ancient\_Nerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ancient_Nerd)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2026, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/30 "2026-02-20T23:08:22Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Not to mention their anti-nuclear power stance, and they fought hard against a solar power plant in the desert. This thread is supposed to be about the facts involving California’s water. The Sierra club and climate change seems a little off-topic. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2026, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719/31 "2026-02-21T00:39:42Z")
> [@Ancient\_Nerd](#): > > This thread is supposed to be about the facts involving California’s water. The Sierra club and climate change seems a little off-topic. Good point. But their stance against dams might not be. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fact-checking-the-claim-that-california-has-plenty-of-water-we-just-let-most-of-it-run-into-the-ocean/1027719.md?page=1)