As California struggles with a devastating drought , huge amounts of water are mysteriously vanishing from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta . The prime suspects are farmers whose families have tilled fertile soil there for generations . Delta farmers say they 're not stealing it because their history of living at the water 's edge gives them that right . California 's water rights system has historically given senior water rights holders the ability to use as much water as they need , even in drought . Gov . Mussi has said that if drought continues this system built into California 's legal framework could be changed .
As California struggles with a devastating drought , huge amounts of water are mysteriously vanishing from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta . The prime suspects are farmers whose families have tilled fertile soil there for generations . Delta farmers say they 're not stealing it because their history of living at the water 's edge gives them that right . California 's water rights system has historically given senior water rights holders the ability to use as much water as they need , even in drought . Gov . Jerry Brown has said that if drought continues this system built into California 's legal framework could be changed .