On the heels of his visit to Los Angeles, President Donald Trump seized the initiative to boost the flow of water through California with a second executive action since he took office one week ago.
Trump’s action, this one capturing emergency conditions to justify unlocking California’s oft-gridlocked water supplies, is once again earning the praise of water stakeholders in the Central Valley.
Flashback: Last week Trump issued a memorandum dubbed “Putting People over Fish,” which instructed the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior to immediately restart the work from his first administration to route more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to other parts of the state.
The big picture: Trump’s executive order concerning California Water was issued last Friday after he toured the wreckage of the wildfire devastation in the Los Angeles area.
- The order requires the government to take all measures to ensure adequate water resources in Southern California.
- Further, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce are to override existing activities that slow efforts to maximize water deliveries in California.
Zoom in: “The Secretary of the Interior, including through the Bureau of Reclamation, shall utilize his discretion to operate the CVP to deliver more water and produce additional hydropower, including by increasing storage and conveyance, and jointly operating federal and state facilities, to high-need communities, notwithstanding any contrary State or local laws,” the order reads.
- The Bureau of Reclamation has been ordered to take all available measures to ensure that the California Department of Water Resources and other state agencies do not interfere with the operation to maximize water delivery to high-need communities.
- It also requires the Secretary of the Interior to expedite action related to any exemption under the Endangered Species Act for the long-term operation of California’s water delivery projects.
What they’re saying: The Friant Water Authority applauded Trump’s latest order on water, saying the president has been a leader in tackling the policies and regulations that have hindered reliable water delivery.
- “For too long, outdated regulations and misaligned priorities have left our fields dry and our communities struggling,” the Friant Water Authority said in a statement. “President Trump’s announcement in Southern California underscores his dedication to fixing these issues and delivering durable solutions for the hardworking families and agricultural communities who are the backbone of California’s economy.”
- Westlands Water District said the order ensures that the needs of farmers and communities in California are being appropriately considered, adding that the course of action over the past few decades from the government has not been working.
- “We appreciate President Trump’s readiness to address these issues head-on and look forward to collaborating with federal and state partners to bring common sense back to the Food Basket of the United States,” said Westlands General Manager Allison Febbo in a statement.
- The San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority issued a similar statement as Westlands, with Executive Director Federico Barajas saying, “We thank the President for his continued focus on highlighting issues of water supply reliability for the people and communities in California. We look forward to working with the Administration on a path forward to implement the Order in a way that will improve water supply reliability for the communities, farms, and ecosystems reliant on water from the Water Authority’s member agencies.”
- Rep. Vince Fong was part of the roundtable in Southern California on Friday, using the opportunity to discuss California’s water situation with Trump.
- “On Friday, I thanked President Trump as he laid out a sensible plan to secure water for Californians,” Fong said. “His directives will ensure that California is using all resources possible to deliver an ample supply of water to families and farmers throughout the state, including to the Central Valley. As wildfires continue to ravage communities in our fire-prone state, it is important that we do everything we can to enhance California’s water supply, improve water infrastructure, and ensure proper water storage now and into the future. President Trump is delivering on his promise to Californians.”
