Trump Claims Victory in California Water Dispute While Officials Scramble to Prevent Flooding

Trump Claims Victory in California Water Dispute While Officials Scramble to Prevent Flooding
Trump Claims Victory in California Water Dispute While Officials Scramble to Prevent Flooding

SACRAMENTO, California — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers moved to release massive quantities of water in Central California this week, triggering alarm among local officials who feared potential flooding. While former President Donald Trump hailed the move as a victory in his ongoing water battle with the state, local water managers say they barely averted disaster.

Trump boasted on his social media platform about the release, stating, “Today, 1.6 billion gallons and, in three days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons. Everybody should be happy about this long-fought Victory! I only wish they listened to me six years ago — There would have been no fire!”

However, the situation on the ground was far from celebratory. The Army Corps had abruptly notified local officials on Thursday that it planned to increase water flows from two reservoirs—Lake Kaweah and Success Lake—to maximum capacity. The Corps cited an executive order from Trump instructing federal agencies to “maximize” water supplies in response to wildfires in Los Angeles.

Victor Hernandez, who oversees water management on the Kaweah River in Tulare County, said he was given just one hour’s notice.

“I’ve been here 25 years, and I’ve never been given notice that quick,” Hernandez said. “That was alarming and scary.”

Following urgent discussions with local officials, the Army Corps ultimately scaled back its planned release to one-third of its original speed. Still, water managers remain concerned about potential flood risks.

A History of Water Disputes

The move is part of Trump’s broader efforts to divert more water to Central Valley farmers, a key conservative base in California. He has frequently blamed the state’s water management policies for shortages and even wildfires, despite experts pointing out that water supply issues had nothing to do with the Los Angeles fires.

An Army Corps spokesperson, Gene Pawlik, defended the releases, saying they were consistent with Trump’s executive order to ensure water availability for emergency wildfire response.

While lowering reservoir levels ahead of storms is standard flood-control practice, Hernandez said the Corps’ initial plan would have released far more water than necessary, putting downstream communities at risk.

“People don’t understand that [with] channel capacity, you’re going to have flood damage down below,” Hernandez said.

Risk to Agriculture and Infrastructure

Beyond immediate flooding concerns, local officials worry about longer-term water availability. The state’s snowpack, a critical source of summer water, is currently at just 47% of average due to a dry January. Releasing too much water now could mean shortages later in the year, especially for farmers.

“We need to keep every bit that we have because this potentially is irrigation water that we have up there,” Hernandez said.

Despite Trump’s claim that the water was headed to Los Angeles, experts argue that transporting it at the planned speed would have been nearly impossible. A rarely used state valve could divert Tulare Lake floodwaters into the aqueduct that supplies Southern California, but neither state nor federal officials confirmed whether it would be activated.

Political Fallout and Congressional Scrutiny

As backlash over the water releases grew, California lawmakers demanded answers. Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla sent a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose department oversees the Army Corps, questioning the decision-making process.

“Unscheduled water releases require close coordination with local officials and safety personnel, as well as downstream agricultural water users, in order to reduce flood risks to communities and farms,” Padilla wrote. “Based on the urgent concerns I have heard from my constituents, as well as recent reporting, it appears that gravely insufficient notification was given, recklessly endangering residents downstream.”

Meanwhile, the White House did not comment on whether it had directly ordered the releases. Hernandez was told by Jenny Fromm, the Army Corps’ chief water manager in Sacramento, that the directive came from “somewhere above.”

Although the immediate threat of flooding has passed, local officials remain on high alert for further federal directives that could disrupt carefully managed water systems.

“This isn’t about politics,” Hernandez said. “It’s about making sure people don’t lose their homes and livelihoods over a decision made hundreds of miles away.”

 

From : News
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