Water rights issues can seem outrageous at first blush, but there are good, logical reasons for them. For example, suppose this guy filled up his ponds with a g

Water rights issues can seem outrageous at first blush, but there are good, logical reasons for them. For example, suppose this guy filled up his ponds with a garden hose from the farm's plumbing. He wouldn't expect to get that water for free, even though the equivalent amount of rainwater fell on his property. But more importantly, the fact that he doesn't have water rights to his property is factored into the price he paid when he bought the property and is also factored into his taxes every year. His property is worth less because it doesn't come with water rights and he knew that when he bought it for that reduced price. For him to now try to keep the water that he didn't pay for is a laughable claim.