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The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened two major dams in Central California on Friday, releasing approximately 2.2 billion gallons of water from state reservoirs following an order from President Donald Trump.
The decision, intended to send water to fire-stricken Southern California, has drawn significant criticism from water experts who argue the move was both unnecessary and wasteful.
Trump praised the action in posts on Truth Social over the weekend, writing, “The water is flowing in California,” and claiming that the release would benefit farmers across the state as well as residents of Los Angeles.
However, experts quickly pointed out that the released water will not reach Los Angeles and will likely be wasted, as it was discharged during the wet winter season instead of being conserved for the dry summer months.
“They were holding extra water in those reservoirs because of the risk that it would be a dry summer,” said Heather Cooley, research director for the Pacific Institute, a California-based water policy organization. “This puts agriculture at risk of insufficient water during the summer months.”
Trump initially posted that 1.6 billion gallons were being released, later stating that “in three days, it will be 5.2 billion gallons.” From Friday to Sunday, an estimated 2.2 billion gallons were discharged, according to statements from local water districts.
The water was directed into the dry lakebed of Tulare Lake, rather than being stored for future agricultural or urban use.
In a letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) criticized the decision, warning that it could worsen water shortages for California’s farmers in the coming months.
“Downstream entities used these releases for limited irrigation demand and groundwater recharge,” a statement from local water officials read. However, Cooley remained skeptical.
“This release is extremely concerning,” she said. “It’s providing zero benefit and putting California farmers at risk of water supply constraints in the coming months.”
The California Department of Water Resources echoed these concerns, with Director Karla Nemeth stating that the state had not been involved in the decision to release the water.
“These reservoirs were federal reservoirs, and the state of California was not part of the decision-making in this instance,” Nemeth said. “We traditionally have a high degree of coordination at the operational level, which really wasn’t a part of this decision.”
Experts also emphasized that the water released from the reservoirs at Lake Kaweah and Lake Success does not flow into Los Angeles.
California’s State Water Project is responsible for moving water from Northern California to Southern California, including to Los Angeles, but the newly released water is part of a different system that primarily serves agriculture-heavy regions in the Central Valley.
Los Angeles receives its water supply from a mix of state reservoirs and the Colorado River, which are entirely separate from the water system tied to Lake Kaweah and Lake Success.
The Central Valley, home to large farms that produce nuts, citrus, and animal feed crops, relies heavily on groundwater and stored winter precipitation for irrigation.
“This was a misguided move,” Cooley said. “Water storage is critical in California’s arid climate. Releasing large volumes in the middle of winter, when there is already ample rainfall, is a poor management decision.”
The abrupt release also highlighted a lack of coordination between federal and state water managers. In California, water management typically involves close collaboration between federal, state, and local agencies to ensure resources are used efficiently.
However, officials confirmed that this decision was made unilaterally by the Trump administration, without consultation with state authorities.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the White House declined to comment on the decision when contacted by CNN.
The move comes amid broader debates over water management in the Western United States, where prolonged droughts have placed increasing pressure on states to carefully regulate water supplies. California, in particular, has long struggled with balancing urban water needs, agricultural demands, and environmental conservation efforts.
Trump’s order has reignited concerns about how water resources are managed under federal directives, particularly when they bypass state input. Critics argue that decisions regarding reservoir releases should be based on long-term planning rather than short-term political considerations.
Water policy experts stress that California’s agricultural sector, which contributes significantly to the national economy, relies on stable and predictable water supplies. Unplanned releases could leave farmers struggling to secure adequate irrigation during the crucial summer growing season.
As California heads into the warmer months, officials are now assessing the potential impact of the reservoir releases and considering strategies to mitigate any resulting shortages.
The controversy underscores the ongoing challenges of managing water in one of the nation’s most drought-prone regions and the need for coordinated policies that prioritize long-term sustainability over hasty decisions.
