If anyone wants a deep dive on this subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cadillac_Desert
Came here to post this. Dam good book on the shifty maneuvering that resulted in the Owens Valley Diversion and ultimately the population center that is LA.
loading story #47456902
Or another kind of take:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071315/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8...
(Chinatown)