Smugglers and storms

Funny to be talking water rights on a day when San Diego received its first good drenching of the season. Wrapping up Saturday’s TOSD news, it was all about water – another smuggling tragedy, San Diegans coping with the rain and California battling for its share of the Colorado River’s flow. Here you go:

Smuggling  – It’s almost unimaginable that anyone could be so inhumane as to try to smuggle migrants by sea as a storm is bearing down. But coyotes are mercenaries and there was money to be made. The result? Four people are dead. The search goes on for more survivors.

Storms – There were crashes, flooded intersections and rescues when the worst of the weekend storms hit Saturday morning, but thankfully, no repeat of the serious flooding that hit the region almost two years ago. Enjoy the sun Sunday afternoon because there’s more rain to come through Tuesday.

Colorado River – The California water wars have a deep history. The latest salvo pits three states, us, along with Arizona and Nevada, against four others over this key, but dwindling water resource. It all boils down to this:  “You’re cutting a smaller pie, for more people.” And the feds are watching.

Speaking of water: Public policy is rarely good Hollywood fodder, but it’s dramatized so well in the classic Chinatown. Granted, Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway and company take a lot of dramatic license in depicting one of the state’s many battles over water. Enlightening, entertaining and heartbreaking all at once, it’s a near perfect noir. And a fine way to pass the time on a rainy day.

Thoughts? Opinions? Share them with us at news@timesofsandiego.com.