Oregon and Northern California farmers who lost irrigation water in 2001 for the sake of fish are plunging into a climactic courtroom battle for tens of millions of dollars in compensation. The trial involves a lot of money, but that's not all. For other Westerners, too, it can have broader implications, clarifying what the government may owe for water steered away from crops toward environmental protection.
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These California and Oregon farmers in Klamath Basin lost irrigation water in 2001. Now, they want to be paid