Audubon California Executive Director Brigid McCormack in today's Los Angeles Times answers those who claim that the environment has to give more to alleviate the pain of the drought by noting that it's given plenty:

Characterizing the environment as an "interested party," similar to agriculture — as some officials have — is a distortion. But if we go along with this characterization and try to say with a straight face that migratory birds are "users" and endangered fish are "stakeholders," then it would be fair to conclude that the environment has given more than its share.

She notes that taking away the tiny amount of water going to birds and habitat won't east the pain of the drought, and advocates solutions that benefit everyone: farms, communities and nature alike:

The drought is a crisis for everyone. It's not an opportunity for those who are philosophically opposed to environmental protections to settle old scores.

(Sandhill Cranes at the Pixley National Wildlife Refuge by Anita Ritenour)