Trump Officials Release Water in California That Experts Say Will Serve Little Use

The Trump administration officials have started releasing significant amounts of water from two dams in California’s Central Valley in a move that appeared to be politically motivated. President Trump continued to falsely blame the Los Angeles wildfires on water policies in the state. The releases have directed water towards low-lying land in the Central Valley, with none of it reaching Southern California, according to water experts. Despite this, President Trump claimed that the action could have prevented the wildfires in Los Angeles, which are on the other side of mountain ranges that the water cannot reach.

President Trump’s social media post on Friday showcased a “photo of beautiful water flow” that he attributed to the dam releases, calling it a “long fought Victory.” Experts expressed concern that releasing so much water now would not benefit farmers, who typically require higher irrigation levels in the spring and summer when agricultural fields are in abundance.

State and federal officials do release some water from dams before storms to make room for incoming flows, and there is moderate precipitation expected in the region over the next 72 hours. However, it is a carefully coordinated effort, with water managers aiming to release as little water as possible to ensure sufficient supplies for farmers and residents later in the year. They also need to prevent overwhelming communities below the dams with water.

The sudden release of water was a result of an order from the Trump administration to “maximize” water supplies in California following the president’s baseless claims about the state’s water policies. The release of water from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Lake Success was expected to total approximately 1.6 billion gallons by the end of the day.

Since the fires began, President Trump has falsely accused Gov. Gavin Newsom of California of being able to solve water shortages in Southern California with the turn of a valve. He has also made incorrect statements about California having access to water from the Pacific Northwest and Canada, despite the lack of a pipeline connecting the state to its northern neighbors.

Mr. Trump has repeatedly claimed that more water releases from the north could have extinguished the fires.

Water supplies from Northern California played no role in the firefighting efforts in Los Angeles County. The fires caused hydrants in Pacific Palisades to go dry due to the municipal water system not being equipped to handle multiple fires simultaneously. A reservoir that supplied the neighborhood was empty due to maintenance issues, not because of a lack of water supply to Southern California.

Water allocations that impact wildlife are determined by long-standing policies that balance the state’s various water needs. State and federal officials must consider the needs of farms, cities, ecosystems, and the preservation of freshwater supplies in estuaries to prevent salinity problems caused by ocean influences.

During a visit to Los Angeles, President Trump promised to “open up the pumps and valves in the north.” He later issued an executive order directing federal authorities to override state authorities and “maximize” water deliveries in California. This led to an increase in water flow from reservoirs in the Sierra Nevada, posing a threat to local levees.

Mr. Thayer expressed concerns about the potential dangers of an unplanned surge of water, including the risk of debris endangering homeless individuals camping in stream beds.

Local water managers were taken aback by the sudden release of water that they had not requested. Concerns were raised about the potential risks to residents downstream. The initial directive to release a significant amount of water was eventually scaled back before being adjusted to a more manageable level to prevent potential flooding.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers stated that the water releases were in response to the Executive Order on Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California to assist with the wildfires. The California Department of Water Resources noted that the releases seemed unnecessary.

Water stored in the Kaweah and Success lakes is primarily used for flood control and irrigation for Central Valley farms. The water does not flow to Southern California through the aqueduct. The current releases are unlikely to benefit farmers as their fields are dormant, and the water would likely end up in canals or flow out to the Pacific Ocean.

The depletion of water reserves could pose challenges for farmers if there is a dry year ahead. The release of water now could leave the region vulnerable in the event of a drought.

Senator Alex Padilla expressed concerns about the unscheduled release of water from the dams, citing insufficient notification and potential risks to residents downstream.

Sanjay Mohanty, a professor at UCLA specializing in civil and environmental engineering, warned that the release of water could have negative consequences for farmers. Water stored in the lakes is meant to be delivered to farmers later in the year, with releases typically occurring in winter to prevent reservoir overflow during storms. The current order to release water is depleting reserves that could be crucial in a dry year.

The precipitation in Central California this weekend is not sufficient to warrant the release of water. The actions taken by the Trump administration could have long-term implications for water availability in the region.

Senator Padilla raised concerns about the lack of notification and the potential risks posed by the sudden release of water from the dams.