Since Donald Trump secured his election victory, discussions around immigration, border security, and government efficiency have become frequent topics. However, it is in the agricultural heartland of California where his remarks about water are capturing significant attention.
The state of California produces about 75% of the nation’s fruits and nuts and over a third of its vegetables, all made possible by an intricate system of dams and canals that transports water to the fertile Central Valley. In recent years, farmers have experienced tighter restrictions on their water access due to environmental concerns, as well as limits on groundwater extraction following prolonged droughts and overuse.
With the arrival of Trump’s second term, farmers are expressing hopes that the administration will secure more consistent water supply from the federally controlled Central Valley Project. Trump has publicly criticized the practice of diverting large quantities of water to the Pacific Ocean instead of utilizing it for agricultural and local community needs, voicing this concern on his Truth Social platform.
“It’s the top priority,” emphasized Jason Phillips, the CEO of the Friant Water Authority, which represents many irrigation districts across the productive valley. He highlighted the essential role of water in agriculture, stating, “Water is the one thing you need before anything else.”
California’s water resources come largely from the Central Valley Project and the state-operated State Water Project. The federal project alone supplies 5 million acre-feet of water annually to farms and 600,000 acre-feet to urban areas, in addition to preserving the ecological health of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a vital area for fish and wildlife.
During Trump’s previous presidency, there were regulations enacted to increase the water flow available to California agriculture, a measure that faced significant backlash from environmental organizations. The Biden administration subsequently sought to reverse these policies, introducing regulations intended to balance agricultural needs with the protection of endangered species, including the delta smelt and Chinook salmon.
Regardless of the prior rains that replenished California’s reservoirs, farmers have expressed frustration over federal water allocations, which they argue have been insufficient. The recent drought years contributed to a sense of urgency, especially after experiencing one of the driest early years in a century in 2022. Experts are warning that this kind of weather variability is likely to become more frequent as climate change progresses.
This unpredictability raises concerns among environmentalists and fishermen, who advocate for reducing agricultural water usage in favor of maintaining delta water flow. The salmon fishing industry has faced significant challenges due to diminishing fish populations, leading to bans over the last two years, with critics attributing these declines to past policies that shifted water away from key spawning areas.
Barry Nelson, policy advisor for the Golden State Salmon Association, voiced his concerns, explaining how past decisions to divert water behind Shasta Dam led to detrimental effects on salmon populations. He stated, “We’re pushing the limits of our ecosystem’s water extraction capabilities, which has resulted in ecological collapse.”
In response to the potential for another Trump administration, California’s Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, a vocal critic of Trump, has urged state lawmakers to prepare for maintaining progressive state policies. Environmental advocates point out that despite opposing Trump’s previous water regulations, Newsom has yet to implement sufficient changes to improve conditions in the delta for wildlife.
The contest for California’s water resources has sparked ongoing disputes among stakeholders, including fishermen, environmentalists, and farmers, each advocating for more sustainable water supply solutions. The proposed approaches vary widely, with suggestions for increased conservation efforts, enhanced water storage capabilities, and advanced technology implementation.
Aubrey Bettencourt, once responsible for water policy in the Department of the Interior during Trump’s first term, suggested a need for modernizing water management systems to better accommodate climate variability, rather than maintaining rigid schedules for water releases. “Planning becomes a challenge when water availability is so unpredictable,” she noted, advocating for greater operational reliability in water management.
As the next administration begins to shape its agricultural policies, including potential export tariffs that may impact growers, California farmers remain optimistic about the future of water availability. Daniel Errotabere, a seasoned farmer and former president of the Westlands Water District, highlighted the pressing necessity for dependable water flows, especially as restrictions on groundwater use tighten. Farmers like him face challenges in consistently planting crops due to water uncertainties.
“There would be outrage if our electricity was managed like this,” Errotabere remarked. “This isn’t an effective way to manage such a vital resource.”
