Trump Administration Stops ‘Radical Environmentalism,’ Increases Water Deliveries To Central Valley

On Thursday, The Bureau of Reclamation signed a Record of Decision adopting an updated long-term operation plan for the Central Valley Project (CVP). In a press release, the Bureau announced, “The decision advances actions designed to maximize water deliveries across California while maintaining protections for endangered fish species.”

The revised plan responds to President Trump’s executive order issued in January entitled, “Putting People over Fish: Stopping Radical Environmentalism to Provide Water to Southern California,” which directs federal agencies to take all available measures to increase water deliveries from the CVP, including issuing a new Record of Decision consistent with federal law.

“Action 5 represents a forward-looking approach to water management that balances the needs of California’s communities, agriculture, and ecosystems,” said Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Andrea Travnicek. “By refining real-time governance and operational flexibility, we are ensuring that every drop of water is managed with precision, accountability, and purpose.”

Under the updated approach, the CVP may increase annual water deliveries by between 130 to 180 thousand acre-feet, and the State Water Project by 120 to 220 thousand acre-feet, depending on hydrologic conditions and subject to the State’s adoption of Action 5.

The previous long-term operation plan was approved in December 2024. The updates adopted today improve the use of scientific modeling and analysis in operational criteria. Changes remain within the range analyzed in the 2024 Long-Term Operations Final Environmental Impact Statement and consistent with effects analyzed in the 2024 Biological Opinions issued by NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Key operational changes to a previous long-term operation plan approved in December 2024 include adjustments to Delta export operations, removal of the Delta Summer and Fall Habitat Action and removal of early export-reduction concepts from the State of California’s Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program.

“With the signing of this Record of Decision, we are delivering on the promise of Executive Order 14181 to strengthen California’s water resilience,” said Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. “This updated operations plan reflects our commitment to using the best available science to increase water deliveries while safeguarding the environment and honoring the legacy of the Central Valley Project’s 90 years of service.”

Firing back against the Bureau and President Trump, Governor Newsom’s Press office responded on social media claiming “Trump was misleading people about water in California” and “disregarding science.”

Once again, Trump is misleading people about water in California. 

Instead of doing what’s best for the people, he’s living in a fantasy world about how California actually works. He knows nothing.

Trump staffers who must placate his derangement syndrome are disregarding science and undermining the state’s ability to protect the water supply for people and for farms, and to do what’s best for long-term success.

Once again, Trump is misleading people about water in California.

Instead of doing what’s best for the people, he's living in a fantasy world about how California actually works. He knows nothing.

Trump staffers who must placate his derangement syndrome are disregarding… https://t.co/ITHM7SN1Td

— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) December 5, 2025

In 2020, after President Donald Trump signed law changes in Bakersfield to divert more water for farmers and ranchers in the Central Valley, the state of California responded by suing the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to stop it. The suit focused on how greater water usage is threatening many species with extinction, specifically the chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and delta smelt.