Trump increases water discharges from California reservoirs. Will this help fight the drought?

President Donald Trump’s decision to increase water discharges from California reservoirs has stirred controversy. The administration argues that the additional flow will replenish agricultural lands and alleviate the effects of the drought, but hydrologists warn that this could worsen the water balance in the long run. The key question is: will controlled water discharges actually bring relief to drought-stricken regions, or will they expose California to greater problems in the future?

Trump releases billions of liters of water

On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers opened the spillways of two dams in the Sierra Nevada mountains, leading to a controlled discharge of some 8.3 billion liters of water from reservoirs. The action was the implementation of a presidential decision to increase water supplies to Southern California, a region hit by prolonged drought and wildfires.

Trump openly expressed his satisfaction with the decision, posting on the platform Truth Social. He stressed that the increased flow in California’s rivers will power both farms across the state and the Los Angeles metropolitan area. In his posts, he included a photo showing the discharge of water from the reservoirs, describing it as a long-awaited victory.

BREAKING 🚨 Donald Trump just saved Cali by opening up billions of gallons of water 🙏

Thank You Mr. President ❤️ pic.twitter.com/pUwSfSdTwH

– MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) January 31, 2025

The president stressed that he had long called for an increase in water discharges, saying that previous restrictions on water management had contributed to increased fires. According to him, the decision is expected to help combat drought in agricultural areas and increase the availability of water resources for residents.

The federal administration has conveyed that water discharges from reservoirs will increase to 20 billion liters in the coming days, which the president says is a significant step toward improving the hydrological situation in the region.

Experts warn of consequences

Donald Trump’s decision to significantly increase water discharges from reservoirs has been met with mixed reactions from experts. Some say it could bring short-term benefits to agriculture, but many water experts warn that the long-term consequences of such a measure are difficult to predict.

Laura Ramos of the California Water Institute, speaking to the Economic Times, pointed out that water from reservoirs will not necessarily go where it is needed most. She stressed that increased flows in rivers, instead of effectively feeding the areas affected by the fires, could end up flowing into the ocean or causing local flooding in agricultural areas, leading to water loss and potential damage.

Professor Sanjay Mohanty of the University of California expressed similar concerns, noting that the sudden emptying of reservoirs such as Kaweah and Success could disrupt the stability of the state’s water economy. He warned that California could face water shortages for residents and the agricultural sector if there is insufficient rainfall in the coming months. In his view, water management decisions should be based on comprehensive long-term analyses, rather than being made on an ad hoc basis.

Environmentalists are sounding the alarm

Critical voices are also coming from conservation groups. As reported in the daily El País, the decision to significantly increase reservoir discharges came while the rainy season was still in full swing, raising questions about its legitimacy. Experts quoted by the newspaper stress that the measure could have led to unnecessary flooding, while at the same time the water was released at a time when natural precipitation could more effectively replenish the region’s water resources.

What’s next for California’s drought?

The effects of Trump’s action in terms of stabilizing California’s water resources remain difficult to assess at this point. On the one hand, increased river flows may bring temporary relief to farmers and local communities. On the other hand, however, there is a risk that the emptied reservoirs will not be able to fill up quickly enough if more rainfall is lacking in the following months.