In late January 2025, the Trump administration directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to release substantial amounts of water from Sierra Nevada reservoirs into Central California rivers, aiming to “maximize” water supplies for firefighting efforts in Los Angeles. This action led to the discharge of approximately 2.2 billion gallons of water from California reservoirs.
Local officials expressed alarm, noting that the rapid releases could have caused flooding in downstream areas. Victor Hernandez, responsible for water management on the Kaweah River, stated, “I’ve been here 25 years, and I’ve never been given notice that quick. That was alarming and scary.” Following these concerns, the Corps reduced the release rates to mitigate potential flooding.
The directive was part of an executive order issued by President Trump, instructing federal agencies to prioritize water deliveries to support firefighting and other uses, even if it meant overriding state policies. This move has intensified the ongoing debate between the federal government and California over water management practices. California water officials refuted claims that the U.S. military intervened to “turn on the water,” clarifying that federal water pumps had resumed operation after maintenance, without military involvement.
