While you are absolutely correct that there are plenty of problematic issues around water management in the West that would have created a problem like this eventually even in a world without climate change, it is absolutely the case that aridification of the region, caused by climate change, is exacerbating the issue.
This is similar to the issue regarding forest fires in the West cost. A huge factor is mismanagement of controlled burns in the forests. However, years of record drought absolutely do increase the probability of a forest fire.
Rather than falsely say "it isn't", it's better dismiss the false narrative that this is completely unavoidable because of climate change. With much better water management we could have postponed the impact of climate change quite a while.
The bigger issue is that climate change is being used as an excuse to mask decades of mismanagement of water resources in this region. I also agree with your point that the real conversation should be entirely "what are we going to do about agriculture in deserts and regions that are soon to be deserts?"
This is similar to the issue regarding forest fires in the West cost. A huge factor is mismanagement of controlled burns in the forests. However, years of record drought absolutely do increase the probability of a forest fire.
Rather than falsely say "it isn't", it's better dismiss the false narrative that this is completely unavoidable because of climate change. With much better water management we could have postponed the impact of climate change quite a while.
The bigger issue is that climate change is being used as an excuse to mask decades of mismanagement of water resources in this region. I also agree with your point that the real conversation should be entirely "what are we going to do about agriculture in deserts and regions that are soon to be deserts?"