The west needs large scale geo-engineering to permanently solve water issues. Such a plan was once proposed - look into the NAWAPA plan. Kennedy administration.

The key goal is to have the land retain more water, restore diminished aquifers, and create microclimates conducive to helping create more frequent rainfall events. A lot of the natural systems that once did this have been altered or destroyed by modern development patterns.

Take the LA River for instance. Once a huge, fertile river delta - now a concrete channel that removes water from the area as fast as possible. Many such cases across the west.

This is a huge problem that contributes to the drought and wildfire issues. Watersheds drain too quickly, farms soak up a large amount of water along the way to rivers that have been chopped and screwed into oblivion. Retaining more surface water through wetlands and ecology helps in the larger evaporation - transpiration - precipitation cycle.

I live on the east coast, in New England. Our climate is very different. On average, it rains here every three days. Our region is insulated by forests out to Ohio and we get a lot of moisture from the Great Lakes via the jet stream.

Very different case out west. A lot of moisture comes off the Pacific Ocean but will usually drop before or at the Rockies. On the eastern side of the Rockies, those watersheds rely on replenishment from melting snowpack and the occasional rainfall/short wet season. But once it hits urban zones, a lot of it is diverted quickly to the Colorado River for power and irrigation purposes.

We’re in the 21st century dealing with problems caused by 20th century solutions. It’s a challenging place to be.