Question: Where does most of California currently get almost all of its water?
Answer: From the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
Unfortunately California is facing a water crisis and the population of little smelt fish in the area is becoming endangered. The water problem lies in a drought and the fragile delta as years and years of use have caused it to deteriorate. Now, some say that only a manmade canal can save the day... but it's controversial.
More specifically, the canal would be a peripheral pipeline that helps the delta pump fresh water to California's neighborhoods, cities and farms. However, some opponents of the pipeline feel that water production wouldn't increase at all and thus it wouldn't help with the water crisis at all. You see, every year California's water shortage grows exponentially so they feel that rerouting water with the canal will not make a difference.
There are no easy answers in complex problems like the one involving the delta and the canal. However, recently Governor Scharwzenegger and Senator Dianne Feinstein put together a $9.3 billion bond measure that will increase water production through efforts like recycling and desalination and will improve the delta's health.
Regardless, the peripheral canal is coming.