President Donald Trump chastised California yet again over water policies — and this time the state shot back.
And San Joaquin County farmers? They are left once again as a bargaining chip in the water wars as they clamor for more access to the flows they need to grow food.
Trump took to social media this week, claiming the military had “turned on the water” and let it flow “abundantly” into California.
The state Department of Water Resources was quick to refute the allegation, taking to X to say the military never came and nothing has changed except for some federal pumps being switched back on after three days of maintenance.
A mention in Trump’s latest directive that more water be diverted to Southern California, as the president has called for — falsely claiming it will help with the Los Angeles fires — only adds to the concern.
California Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, D-Tracy, waded into the morass Monday, saying she strongly opposes a proposed federal plan that would divert water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Southern California.
She said farmers, families, businesses and wildlife depend on the water here.
“The Delta is essential to our region,” Ransom said in a statement. “Diverting water jeopardizes the ecosystem and deepens historical injustices faced by California tribes and disadvantaged communities.”
But the Westlands Water District, which serves western Fresno and Kings counties, lauded Trump for taking a leadership role in solving California’s water woes.
“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,” Westlands’ general manager Allison Febbo said in a statement.
The latest tiff began with a brash Trump post on his Truth Social media channel:
“The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond,” President Trump shared in a post on his social media site Truth Social. “The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!”
In response the California Department of Water Resources fired back in its own post on X:
“The military did not enter California. The federal government restarted federal water pumps after they were offline for maintenance for three days. State water supplies in Southern California remain plentiful.”
Trump’s post followed two directives he has issued. The first, coming hours after his Jan. 20 inauguration, told federal agencies to prioritize water for cities and farms over its use to preserve wildlife, especially the endangered Delta smelt. “People over fish,” it declared.
The next one, dated Jan. 24, cited the catastrophic fires in Southern California in ordering federal departments to “ensure adequate water resources in Southern California.” They were to report back within 15 days using “emergency authorities,” if necessary, to assure him that enough water was being sent to fight the fires.
While firefighters ran out of water fighting the devastating Palisades fire on L.A.’s western coast, the problem had nothing to do with water deliveries from the Delta or Northern California. It was due to a vital reservoir that had been empty for a year, the Los Angeles Times reported, and more demand for water at a single time than hydrants could handle.
An inch of rain fell in Los Angeles over the weekend. The fires are all but out, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reports.
If farmers fear water that might come their way is instead headed to California’s thirsty south, one key congressman isn’t worried.
U.S. Rep. Vince Fong, R-Bakersfield, hailed Trump’s pronouncements on water in a statement Sunday.
With Trump setting the new priorities, he indicated there will be more water for everyone — enough to meet not only agricultural needs in the San Joaquin Valley, but other water demands in Southern California.
Fong said Trump “laid out a sensible plan to secure water for Californians. 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.”
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