US President Donald Trump has drawn criticism for his recent directive to release billions of gallons of water from two reservoirs in California's Central Valley in a bid to help fight wildfires raging in Los Angeles. The reservoirs in question, Lake Kaweah and Lake Success, are located more than 100 miles away from the affected areas, sparking concerns over the effectiveness and consequences of the decision.
In his recent post, Trump wrote: "Photo of beautiful water flow that I just opened in California. Today, 1.6 billion gallons and, in 3 days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons. Everybody should be happy about this long fought Victory! I only wish they listened to me six years ago – There would have been no fire!"
However, officials and experts in the US quickly refuted his claims. "There is absolutely no connection between this water and the water needed for firefighting in LA," said Peter Gleick, a climate and hydrology expert. He explained that it is logistically impossible to transport water from the Central Valley reservoirs to the Los Angeles Basin in a way that could support firefighting efforts.
According to CNN, Los Angeles' water sources are completely separated from the water system that Lake Kaweah and Lake Success supply.
Adam Schiff, a California senator and Democrat, harshly criticized the president's decision, calling the move "stupid and ridiculous and dangerous and wasteful." He also warned about the potential risk of flooding caused by the large-scale water release.
Experts have raised additional concerns about the impact on agriculture. Heather Cooley, director of research for the Pacific Institute, a California water policy organization, stated that the water stored in Kaweah Lake and Success Lake is essential for irrigating farmland during the summer months. She pointed out that Trump's decision "is providing zero benefit and putting California farmers at risk of water supply constraints in the coming months."
Local water activist Dezaraye Bagalayos echoed these concerns, noting that small farmers are already struggling. "Small growers have already been struggling, and the release of water from the dams means they will have less when they need it," she said.
From Friday, Jan. 31, to Sunday, Feb. 2, local water authorities confirmed that approximately 2.2 billion gallons of water had been released from these reservoirs. While Trump framed the move as a victory in wildfire mitigation, critics argue that the decision risks long-term harm to California's water management and agricultural industry.
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