Part 3/7:
The Resniks’ hold on water began in the late 1980s and was bolstered by a secretive meeting in 1994. This gathering included state water officials and major agricultural players, resulting in the Monterey Plus Agreements. These agreements unfurled new regulations favoring agricultural interests, allowing those with political power, like the Resniks, to dictate terms more favorable to them. Urban areas, once prioritized for water access during droughts, found themselves at a disadvantage, forced to buy water from private companies instead.