DJT Orders Large Releases from California Reservoirs, Putting Farms at Risk

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Skipping the usual coordination with state and local officials, and with no warning, federal officials abruptly increased water release through two California dams.

Flow through Terminus Dam into the Kaweah River jumped from 57 cubic feet per second to more than 1,500. Flow from Lake Success into the Tule River jumped from 105 cubic feet per second to 990. These releases came a few days after Donald Trump falsely claimed on social media that the military had “entered” California and “TURNED ON THE WATER.”

Farmers with expensive equipment near the river and homeless encampments had no warning. State and local officials persuaded federal officials to reduce the extraordinary flows somewhat.

California farmers need reservoirs filled during the winter rainy season so they can draw from them for crops in the summer dry season. Governor Gavin Newsom signed a state-level executive order to divert and store more water from approaching storms. It is not clear whether his actions will be enough to make up for federal draining of more water than normal from reservoirs.

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