Water Woes Threatening Livelihoods of California Ranchers

Government restrictions—not drought—are choking out family farms, say some Siskiyou County cattle ranchers. The orders require an immediate stop of the use of any water from diversions. “We’re not in an emergency drought, so all of this is bogus,” she said. “We’ve just had two good winters with plentiful rain and snowpack and yet the state is treating us though we’re in some extreme drought emergency.” The Johnsons and other ranchers are facing a voluntary 30 percent water curtailment under the emergency regulations. To irrigate the land they own and...