More than 8.3 million cubic meters of water were released from two dams in central California under President Donald Trump’s order, but experts argue the move was pointless.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began releasing water from the Terminus and Schafer Dams at Kaweah and Success Lakes in the San Joaquin Valley over the weekend.
In two Truth Social posts on January 31 and February 2, Trump announced, “Water is flowing in California”, adding that it would be “headed to farmers across the state and Los Angeles”, a region recently ravaged by wildfires.
Experts Question the Decision
Trump claimed that 6 million cubic meters of water were released on January 31, with a total of 20.6 million cubic meters expected over the next three days. However, local water authorities reported that only 8.3 million cubic meters were actually released between January 31 and February 2.
In a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Senator Alex Padilla noted that the water was directed into the dry Tulare Lake basin.
“Downstream facilities will use this release for irrigation and groundwater replenishment,” the letter stated.
However, water policy experts are skeptical about the effectiveness of the move, saying most of the released water would remain in local waterways and irrigation ditches instead of reaching wildfire-stricken areas like Los Angeles.
“A Waste of Water,” Say Experts
Peter Gleick, a water specialist from the Pacific Institute, called the move “wasteful”.
“This water won’t be used for firefighting or agriculture because it’s not the irrigation season,” he explained.
Heather Cooley, a California water policy expert, warned that releasing stored water during the rainy season could cause shortages in the summer.
“This decision puts California’s farmers at risk of running out of water during the dry months ahead,” she said.
She also called the move “extremely concerning”, adding that it provided no benefits and could leave farmers struggling for water later this year.
Lack of Coordination Raises Further Concerns
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the White House have not commented on the criticisms from experts.
Karla Nemeth, Director of the California Department of Water Resources, revealed that state and federal officials did not coordinate the release.
“These reservoirs are federally controlled, and California was not involved in the decision-making process,” Nemeth explained.
She noted that California typically works closely with federal agencies on such matters, but this time, there was no collaboration.
Did the Water Even Reach Los Angeles?
California’s State Water Project is designed to transport water from the north to the south, including Los Angeles. However, Nemeth clarified that Los Angeles’ water system is entirely separate from the Kaweah and Success Lakes.
“The water Trump released is not part of the system that supplies Los Angeles,” she said.
(Sources: CNN, Reuters, AP)
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