California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
Shortly after being sworn into office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior “to immediately restart the work from my first Administration by the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and other agencies to route more water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to other parts of the state for use by the people there who desperately need a reliable water supply.”
“The recent deadly and historically destructive wildfires in Southern California underscore why the State of California needs a reliable water supply and sound vegetation management practices in order to provide water desperately needed there, and why this plan must immediately be reimplemented,” the new order stated.
Westlands Water District praised the Trump administration’s prioritization of “the water supply issues facing California.”
“As the lifeblood for every Californian and essential for our agricultural communities, it is critical that we have water management and distribution systems in place that work in both dry and wet years,” said Allison Febbo, Westlands’ general manager. “We remain confident that a balance exists where water supply for Californians can be met along with the needs of our environment. We look forward to working with the state and incoming federal administrations to find a path forward that benefits all.”
During his first term, Trump signed a similar presidential memorandum and his Interior Department issued a record of decision that favored flows to farmers over fish. However, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration filed a lawsuit, forcing court-mandated temporary plans into place instead.
The new executive order requires a progress report and policy recommendations to the President after 90 days.
