In large managed river basins and water systems such as the Columbia, Missouri, the state and federal California reservoir systems, the Colorado River, the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint, and others, drought creates or exacerbates conflicts about who should get water. The most common conflicts pit older, established uses such as agriculture and navigation against newer uses such as recreation and water for growing municipal populations, and water for direct human use against water for ecosystems.
