When President Trump ordered the federal government to boost water deliveries in California, the Army Corps of Engineers quickly identified two dams to release water. Despite knowing that the water could not be moved to the Central Valley as Trump intended, officials released billions of gallons anyway. This information comes from a newly released memo detailing the Corps’ response to Trump’s directive.
On January 29, five days after Trump’s order, Colonel Chad Caldwell, the Corps’ regional commander, began assessing the situation. He noted that while water was available in two reservoirs, Success Lake and Lake Kaweah, it could not be delivered directly to Southern California. The state controls the aqueducts and pump stations that would be necessary to move this water.
Local water managers were alarmed when they learned of the Corps’ plan to release water. They argued that it was unnecessary and could lead to flooding. Ann Willis, director of American Rivers in California, criticized the decision as reckless and wasteful, emphasizing that the water was essential for farmers and cities.
In response to concerns, the Corps scaled back their initial plan and released less water than originally intended. On January 30, Caldwell spoke with state water officials who indicated they would need more time to utilize the additional water. Local water managers also raised concerns about potential flooding, leading to further reductions in the planned releases.
Despite these adjustments, on January 30, the Corps began releasing water from the Schafer and Terminus Dams. The flows increased overnight, causing anxiety among local officials. Denise England, a Tulare County flood control manager, expressed her concern about the abrupt decision, recalling previous flooding in the area.
Fortunately, local water agencies acted quickly to manage the situation, capturing water from the swollen rivers and using it for groundwater recharge. This prevented the water from going to waste. However, many officials felt that the situation could have been avoided with better planning and communication.
Trump shared a photo of the water flow on social media, calling it a "long fought Victory!" but did not mention where the water was actually going. By the end of the operation, the Corps reported that about 2.5 billion gallons had been released, significantly less than the 5.2 billion gallons Trump initially claimed would be released.
The decision to release water has drawn criticism from lawmakers, particularly Democrats, who have called for more transparency and coordination in water management. They argued that the water should have been conserved for the summer growing season instead of being released during a time when it wasn’t needed.
As California’s water supply remains a critical issue, the recent events highlight the complexities of water management in the state. Local officials and water managers are now calling for improved communication and planning to prevent similar situations in the future.