California water officials have refuted President Donald Trump's recent assertion that the U.S. military intervened in California to activate water flow in the state. Trump's comments, made on social media platform Truth Social, claimed that the military had taken action under emergency powers to increase water supply from the Pacific Northwest to California. However, the California Department of Water Resources clarified that the military did not enter the state.
The federal government had restarted federal water pumps after a brief maintenance period, according to the agency. It was emphasized that state water supplies in Southern California remain abundant and that there is no direct water supply connection from the Pacific Northwest to California's water system.
California's water primarily originates from the north, where snowmelt feeds into rivers that eventually reach the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. From there, water is distributed to various regions in the state through federal and state-operated pumping systems. Trump's statements have often criticized California's water policies, particularly in relation to water allocation for agricultural and environmental purposes.
Despite Trump's claims linking water management to recent wildfires in Los Angeles, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources have not supported these assertions. The White House suggested that Trump's remarks may have referred to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, but specific details regarding water distribution were not provided.
Trump's administration recently issued an executive order aimed at increasing water supply to Southern California, following his visit to the wildfire-affected areas. The order directs federal agencies to develop a plan to ensure adequate water resources in the region within a specified timeframe.
Environmental groups have criticized Trump's executive order, highlighting ongoing debates in California regarding water management practices. The situation underscores the complexities of water allocation in the state and the challenges of balancing competing interests.
