Federal Officials Suddenly Release Water from Two California Dams on Trump’s Orders
Water Releases from Terminus Dam and Schafer Dam Send Massive Flows Down River Channels
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has dramatically increased the amount of water flowing from two dams in Tulare County, sending massive flows down a river channel toward farmlands in the San Joaquin Valley.
Water Releases Jump Early Friday Morning
Federal records show that water releases from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Lake Success jumped early Friday morning.
Trump’s Comments Spark Questions
That was four days after President Trump said on social media that the U.S. military had “entered” California and “TURNED ON THE WATER.” Trump also vowed during a visit to Los Angeles last week to “open up the valves and pumps” in California to deliver more water.
Flow Increases Significantly
According to federal data, the flow from Terminus Dam into the Kaweah River near Visalia increased from 57 cubic feet per second to more than 1,500 on Friday morning. The flow from Lake Success near Porterville into the Tule River increased from 105 cubic feet per second to 990.
Army Corps Conducts Controlled Water Releases
The Army Corps of Engineers is “conducting controlled water releases” from the two dams, said Tyler Stalker, a spokesperson for the Corps in Sacramento. “The action is being coordinated with local officials. The releases are within the capacity of the downstream waterways.”
Reasons for Release Unclear
Responding to questions about the reasons for the sudden increase in water flow, Gene Pawlik, a spokesperson at the Corps’ headquarters in Washington, said in an email that the action was “consistent with the direction” in a Trump’s recent executive order to enact “emergency measures to provide water resources” in California.
Pawlik said the Army Corps was releasing water from the dams “to ensure California has water available to respond to the wildfires.” It was not immediately clear how or where the federal government intends to transport the water.
Timing of Release Raises Questions
The water was released from the dams as two approaching atmospheric river storms were forecast to bring snow and rain to California.
Dam managers in California regularly release water ahead of major storms to make room in reservoirs for more runoff. But the federal agency’s comments about Trump’s executive order suggest that this case was different.
Local Officials Express Concern
Aaron Fukuda, general manager of the Tulare Irrigation District, told the news site SJV Water that normally such flood releases are “done with a lot of notification and coordination.”
“I’ve been doing this 18 years and have never seen something like this.”
Conclusion
The sudden release of water from two California dams has raised questions about the motivations behind the move. While the Army Corps of Engineers claims the release is part of a coordinated effort to provide water resources in California, the timing and lack of notification have left many wondering about the true purpose of the action.
FAQs
Q: Why did the Army Corps of Engineers release so much water from the dams?
A: The Army Corps of Engineers claims the release was part of a coordinated effort to provide water resources in California, consistent with Trump’s executive order to enact “emergency measures to provide water resources” in California.
Q: Why did the release happen so suddenly?
A: The release happened early Friday morning, just four days after President Trump made comments on social media about the U.S. military “entering” California and “turning on the water.”
Q: How will the water be transported?
A: It is unclear how or where the federal government intends to transport the water.
Q: Why did local officials express concern about the release?
A: Local officials expressed concern because the release was done without the usual notification and coordination with local authorities.
