Trump criticises California water policy before touring LA
Since the fires began on 7 January, Trump has used social media and interviews to accuse the state of sending excessive amounts of water to the Pacific Ocean, rather than directing it south toward Los Angeles
As President Donald Trump prepares to visit areas affected by wildfires in California, he is once again focusing on one of his regular targets for criticism: the state's water policy.
Since the fires began on 7 January, Trump has used social media and interviews to accuse the state of sending excessive amounts of water to the Pacific Ocean, rather than directing it south toward Los Angeles. He also pointed out that some hydrants ran dry during the early hours of the firefighting efforts in Pacific Palisades, reports AP.
Early in his second term, Trump urged federal officials to create plans to redirect more water to California's Central Valley, an area with abundant crops, as well as to southern cities. A few days later, he threatened to withhold federal disaster assistance unless state leaders changed their water management strategy.
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This article looks at the facts behind Trump's comments and the extent of presidential influence over California's water policies:
Where does Southern California's water come from?
California's water is largely sourced from the north, while its population is mainly located in the drier southern region. Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city, relies on water from external sources. The Central Valley, which is relatively dry, contains fertile land where much of the country's fruits and vegetables are grown.
Two systems of dams and canals transport water from northern rain and snowmelt to the south. The federal government operates the Central Valley Project, while the state manages the State Water Project. Both systems channel water through the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, an estuary crucial for fish and wildlife such as salmon and the endangered delta smelt, a species Trump has shown interest in.
Southern California's water supply is split between local sources like groundwater, and state and federally managed systems, including the Colorado River. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also manages aqueducts that draw water from the Sierra Nevada.
What power does Washington have over California's water?
Federal officials manage how much water is allocated to the delta to protect endangered species and to users of the Central Valley Project, mostly farms. This project does not supply water to Los Angeles. Both state and federal officials typically coordinate on water distribution, with the goal of maintaining water flow through the delta to support the ecosystem.
However, Trump and others argue that the state allows too much water to flow into the ocean, rather than redirecting it to cities and farms.
What actions has Trump taken regarding California's water policy in the past?
During his previous administration, Trump allowed more water to be redirected from the delta to the Central Valley, a move opposed by environmental groups who claimed it would harm endangered species. California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit, arguing that the policy would drive endangered fish species to extinction, including the delta smelt, chinook salmon, and steelhead trout.
Under President Joe Biden, new regulations were introduced in December, which environmental groups claimed offered some improvements over Trump's first set of rules.
What is Trump's stance now?
Trump continues to criticize California's water management. On his Truth Social platform, he recently attacked the state for diverting millions of gallons of water to the Pacific Ocean, instead of using it for towns, cities, and farms across California.
Such comments have been welcomed by farmers and water managers in the Central Valley, who feel federal water allocations have been too limited over the past two years, despite a period of heavy rainfall in 2023 that helped the state recover from drought. However, dry conditions are returning to central and southern California.
Trump has now instructed the federal government to again redirect more water to farmers and cities.
How does this relate to the Los Angeles fires?
Not much. The ongoing debate about farms versus fish is a well-established issue in California's water politics and does not always follow partisan lines. Some environmentalists argue that Newsom is too accommodating to farming interests, but this debate is not related to the water issues faced during the Los Angeles wildfires.
Over 50,000 under evacuation orders or warnings as wildfire imperils homes north of Los Angeles
Trump has suggested that state officials should "turn the valve" to provide more water to the city, but the state's water supplies are not responsible for the hydrant shortages or the near-empty Santa Ynez Reservoir during the fire fight.
The hydrants failed because they were overstressed, and the reservoir was empty due to maintenance. Newsom has called for an investigation into how the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power handled these issues.
According to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the region has enough water in storage to meet around three years of demand. Interim General Manager Deven Upadhyay affirmed, "We can deliver what our agencies need."
If the federal government decides to allocate more water, it may not benefit Los Angeles. Without coordination between state and federal systems, increasing federal water draw could lead California to reduce its own water allocations to protect the delta, Upadhyay added.
