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Westlands

California’s central valley is one of the most productive food producing regions in the world. However, water policy has left farming on the west side in danger of collapsing. In dry years the west side is last in line for water allocations. Recent policy has cut their allocation even further. The result is fallowed land, workers moving out of town, farms collapsing, and businesses closing. The issue is much more complex than farmers versus environmentalists. It's about an antiquated water policy, a fragile ecosystem, and a growing population. Westlands is a series of images set against the backdrop of a pivotal period in the state's history.