Bakersfield to Madera...

Like it or not, I think this is going to become a major urban corridor as water becomes too scarce and too expensive for farming.

Paradoxically this urban development could end up having a smaller environmental footprint than today's industrial agriculture. Urban residents might want to see long vanished riparian environments and wetlands restored and they'll have the political and economic power to accomplish this.

High speed rail will likely be part of that.