As an old desert rat, i tend to agree, but it all depend upon location, location, location. Albany, CA, is located in a fairly humid environment (the OP mentions nearby local creeks) so he can probably get by with less than would be necessary even in SoCal,much less the interior deserts. On a typical day in the Sonoran desert, one gallon would not be sufficient for one person, much less a family sized group.

What is vital in one situation is just unnecessary baggage in another.