OK Dave you're right about this serious situation. Water rights and allocations will be the hot buttons of our future I think...This portion of the news story says alot:

"The event followed a national controversy in 2001, when the feds cut water deliveries to the farmers to protect fish in a drought year, causing economic hardship and bankruptcies among southern Oregon farmers. "

We have had the same catch 22 problem in Washington in the Methow and elsewhere. No question that killing fragile fish stocks when it can be avoided is stupid but I think we also need to be sensitive to the other water users don't we? Doing so doesn't mean you are insensitive to fish just balanced. Or is there no room for balance?