Putting People Over Fish
This order directs the federal departments of Commerce and Interior to resume plans proposed during the first Trump Administration to channel more northern California water to central and southern parts of the state. These decisions are within the purview of the agencies’ authorities, though agencies are also directed in a variety of Congressional statutes to work wherever possible in a cooperative manner with state and local authorities and private stakeholders.
What to watch: The California governor sued to stop this plan when it was last attempted, but the competency of California’s water management practices have been under heavy scrutiny, so it will be interesting to see if the state sues again to block federal agencies from implementing this order.
January 20, 2025