Yes,LA climate is indeed mild. By about the year 1900 LA, population about 15,000, was beginning to outgrow it's water supply. The main source of LA water was probably from wells. The annual rain wasn't and isn't enough to support a huge population.
In order to facilitate further economic growth water had to be obtained from somewhere. So, why not the Eastern Sierra, where just a few farmers lived? It certainly made sense at the time, especially to land developers...
LA seems to be loath to do anything to obtain water from the ocean, via de-salinization, because it would cost $$$.
It's going to be really interesting to see what happens if the Sierra has to endure another drought winter and the water from the Eastern Sierra goes down to a trickle. Would LA then do what they should do regarding conservation?
