This isn't true. There is a natural rain shadow in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The California Aqueduct takes water from the Sierras and Central Valley and

This isn't true. There is a natural rain shadow in the southern San Joaquin Valley. The California Aqueduct takes water from the Sierras and Central Valley and supplies southern cities like San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, LA and Palmdale. I'm not really sure what you're referring to by "the government stepped in and diverted water" comment. Or by "all the lakes were drying up before they got here". What are your sources?