As various issues regarding water usage and conservation take center stage in the southwestern states of the U.S., the monopoly of Imperial Valley over the Colorado River is more vulnerable than ever. In a report by ProPublica and the Desert Sun elaborate the disproportionate water consumption by twenty influential farming families along the Colorado River in Imperial Valley, California. These families control the primary water source, enjoying the benefits of over 300 billion litres annually​​.  The saga began in the early 1900s when the California Development Co. secured unlimited water usage rights. Imperial County saw a seismic shift as certain … Continue reading Imperial Valley’s Water Barons: How 20 Families Command the Colorado River