The Trump administration has fulfilled a pledge it made in January to deliver more water to farmers in California’s Central Valley, a region famous for its cotton, almonds and other crops.
On Thursday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced a new way to run the Central Valley Project—a sprawling network of pumps, dams and canals that moves water from the water‑rich northern part of the state down toward the southern plains. The move follows President Donald Trump’s executive order that called for the flow of more water to agricultural interests, arguing that the state had been unnecessarily withholding water in an effort to safeguard endangered fish.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the updated plan is designed to “strengthen California’s water resilience.” The policy takes effect on Friday.
California officials and environmental groups have slammed the decision, warning that the larger shift toward farmland could compromise water deliveries to cities and harm fish populations. The state’s major water bodies sit in the north, yet the majority of residents live in the southern regions. Federally managed water from the Central Valley Project works in concert with the state-run State Water Project, which supplies water to cities that serve 27 million Californians. Both systems rely on the Sacramento‑San Joaquin River Delta, an estuary that furnishes vital habitat for salmon, delta smelt and other wildlife.
Karla Nemeth, director of the California Department of Water Resources, explained that coordination between the two systems is essential for the state’s overall water strategy. “The Trump administration’s plan could curtail California’s ability to send water to cities and farmers,” she warned. “If the federal project diverts more water to farms, the state may need to allocate even more for species protection.”
Barbara Barrigan‑Parrilla, executive director of Restore the Delta, argued that pumping more water could result in higher mortality for delta smelt and juvenile salmon, as they become trapped in the pumping system. Rising temperatures would also trigger harmful algae blooms that threaten fish, wildlife, pets and people, adding economic risk. “When you destroy water quality and detach it from land, you also erode property values,” she said. “Nobody wants to live beside a fetid, polluted backwater swamp.”
The Bureau of Reclamation maintains that the adjustments will not harm the environment or endangered species. The Central Valley Project primarily channels water to farms, with a much smaller share designated for municipal and industrial use. According to the Bureau, roughly one‑third of California’s agriculture relies on this project.
The Westlands Water District, one of the biggest consumers of Central Valley Project water, welcomed the decision. “It will help ensure that our growers have the water they need to support local communities and the nation’s food supply, while also protecting California’s wildlife,” said Allison Febbo, general manager.
During his first term, President Trump had allowed additional water to be directed toward the Central Valley. Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom contested this in court, contending that the shift would push endangered delta smelt, chinook salmon and steelhead trout toward extinction. The Biden administration reversed course, adopting its own water plan in 2024 that environmental groups described as a modest improvement. Newsom did not immediately respond to the recent announcement.
The Republican president also reiterated criticism of California’s water policies after January’s Los Angeles‑area fires left some hydrants dry. The Central Valley Project does not supply water to Los Angeles. Trump dubbed his January executive order “Putting People over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Provide Water to Southern California.”
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