Westlands Water District is a water agency covering 600,00 acres of farmland in Fresno and Kings county. The immense size of it draws suspicion for many, and it has been involved in many controversial environmental issues since it's formation in 1952. It could be the largest water district in the United States, if not the world.

Westlands' website says it serves about "600 family-owned farms that average 900 acres in size". It goes on to say 50,000 people work on the lands watered by the district in several communities.

Westlands is currently working on several issues with its water. It's supply comes from the San Joaquin/Sacramento Delta, which is the source of it's most recent controversy. Westlands has purchased a large tract of land in the lower Sacramento delta, prompting some to be concerned that Westlands may make a claim on water in the Sacramento River, or it may drill wells to supplement its flow from the Central Valley Project's water releases.

Westlands' says it has made the Delta purchase to restore habitat in the Delta to ensure water will be available later on. Scientists have suggested there is a food chain issue in the Delta due in part to pumping water out for use throughout the state. (The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California also draws water from the Delta through the California Aqueduct.) As water is primarily pumped out of the Delta from the southern end, and the freshwater enters the Delta mostly on the northern end, natural water flows have been disrupted.

As a result, water districts that use the Delta as a supplier have become more conscious about the troubles of the Delta. This is especially evident after recent court rulings have shut down pumps as being in violation of the Endangered Species Act.

As water becomes scarcer due to global warmings' effect on the Sierra snow pack, tensions about water will only grow, setting some areas of the Valley against each other.