Should thirsty California be allowed to drink from Wyoming's plentiful water bowl?

If so, how big of a sip should the Golden State get? And who decides how much needs to be set aside for future Wyomingites?

Governors from across the West sparred over water and how to make sure everyone is getting their fair share Tuesday during a policy conference designed to drive consensus.

Federal experts urged state leaders to weigh water needs over water wants, while state leaders pleaded for less federal oversight and new flexibility on water agreements that detail how much water states get from a limited pool of resources.

"Clearly for those of us in the West, water is a very significant issue," said Utah Gov. Gary R. Herbert, a Republican. "It's an emotional topic and sometimes so emotional that reasonable thought goes out the window."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NV_WESTERN_GOVERNORS_AZOL-?SITE=AZCAS&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT