Forget the Gold and Silver Standards, water is a far more valuable commodity. Just ask the people of Owens Valley, Ca.; or Montecello, Ca.; or the many farming towns of Southern Nevada who are watching all their water bypass their land en-route to Las Vegas casinos.
PS. Don't bother looking on a map for Montecello, Ca. it's at the bottom of Lake Berryessa (built for recreation in 1958, not for drinking water) like many other towns thatused to exist in the state.