Huffman, Larsen Demand Answers on Trump’s Wasteful, Unscheduled Water Releases from Major CA Dams

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) sent a letter to Department of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum demanding an explanation for the Trump administration’s abrupt, unscheduled water releases from Terminus Dam and Schafer Dam in California’s Central Valley by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

“According to multiple news reports, these releases deviated from established flood safety protocols and were carried out with minimal notice—leaving state and local government officials and local water managers “caught off-guard” as flows rapidly escalated from nominal levels to channel capacity within hours. This sudden, uncoordinated move raises serious concerns for downstream agricultural operations and communities since local authorities had little time to adjust or plan accordingly,” the Ranking Members wrote. 

The lawmakers requested answers regarding: 

1. Why the administration deviated from flood safety operating rules; 
2. If and how there was any coordination with local authorities; 
3. How the release will impact water usage; and 
4. Intentions surrounding any future water releases. 

The members also noted their concerns that these releases did not meet their stated intent of providing Los Angeles with additional water and could reduce the availability of critical municipal and agricultural water supplies later in the year—further exacerbating the fire, safety, and economic risks facing this drought prone region for years. 

A full copy of the letter can be found here. 

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