In Klamath Basin, the water was controlled by turning one wheel at the dam head. Patriots went out there in the middle of the night, broke in, and turned it on themselves to let the water flow.
The San Joaquin water is entirely managed by the Banks Pumping Plant near Livermore CA that flows billions of gallons of water through it's pumps.
The Federal courts have turned off the water to Central California's agricultural region with one switch that you can't get to as easily as the single lonely unprotected water spigot at Klamath Reservoir.
Thanks for that info. I bet the farmers could find a way. They know how much water they need and where it is coming from. I know this, the government...state or federal does not want the spectre of farmers being beaten, jailed, or worse over their water. Those on the ground, who are the water users could figure out some solution...but it will be up to them to do so.