In a stunning and compelling New York Times opinion piece, photojournalist Ryan Christopher Jones captures the California Delta’s breathtaking beauty and the high-stakes political fights that threaten it. Blending evocative storytelling with striking imagery, Jones takes readers on a journey through this unique, marshy estuary — home to vibrant wildlife, working marinas, and a water system that sustains farms in the Delta and San Joaquin Valley plus millions in Southern California.
But as Jones illustrates, the Delta has become a political battleground with Donald Trump once again weaponizing California’s water conflicts to attack environmental protections. Through historical context and personal reflection, he challenges the tired “water war” narrative, urging a more thoughtful conversation about balancing conservation, agriculture, and urban water needs.
This is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future of California’s water, its communities, and the ecosystems caught in the middle. The fight for the Delta is emblematic of the fight for America’s economic, environmental and political future.
Read more from Mr. Jones here.
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