SAN FRANCISCO – (INT) – There’s no debate among Californians that there’s a water shortage. But, the Field Poll found there is no clear consensus about whether the situation is due more to a lack of water storage, or users not using existing supplies efficiently enough.

The poll also found 54 percent of Californians believe that farmers, who currently consume about
three-quarters of the state's fresh water supply, can reduce their water use without creating real
hardships by changing crops and using water more efficiently.

Voters are divided when asked whether the state should be allowed to bypass existing environmental regulations protecting fish in the Sacramento-San Joaquin river delta region.

Story Date: April 30, 2014