Debates over water are nothing new in California. However, the discussion has resurfaced following a recent study comparing what urban areas and agriculture pay for surface water.

A December 2025 CalMatters article by Rachel Becker and Natasha Uzcátegui-Liggett highlights the ongoing debate over how much California’s cities and agricultural districts pay for water. The study notes that major cities often pay more than $2,500 per acre-foot, while farmers pay far less under long-standing water rights and contracts. Some urban officials point to this difference as evidence that agriculture is receiving a “free ride.”

It is not a free ride. It is a reflection of reality. Without reliable water for agriculture, America’s food supply collapses, local economies are devastated, and the Central Valley suffers — not because of drought, but because of policy choices.