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The huge inland body of water that is the heart of California’s water system is under major stress. That’s why state officials say they worked for years to come up with a plan to help halt the ecological decline of the San Francisco Bay and Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. Now that plan is under attack from the Trump administration and the largest irrigation authority in the Central Valley.
In a letter, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation says California’s plan for the Delta will shortchange farmers by restricting how much water the federal government pumps from the state’s largest rivers. The letter claims the plan threatens the “entire fabric of California’s agricultural economy.” The bureau manages one of California’s two main water systems, including massive pumps that pull water from the Delta and send it to farms and communities as far south as Bakersfield. The agency warns that if California regulators don’t change the plan, the federal government won’t contribute funds to projects that restore habitat for fish and other wildlife, something endorsed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The Central Valley’s Westlands Water District announced it would pull out of providing funds for habitat restoration if the state sticks to its current plan, citing abandonment of key parts of agreements negotiated in 2022. The state’s plan, developed over two terms of Governor Gavin Newsom, reflects collaboration with water users, federal and state agencies, and includes revisions based on Bureau of Reclamation feedback. It sets rules for water pumping, offering two compliance methods: traditional minimum river flow levels or voluntary agreements ensuring river flows and habitat restoration payments.
The Trump administration opposes the plan, arguing it imposes conditions on federal operations like Shasta and Folsom Dams. Deputy Commissioner Aubrey Bettencourt urged the State Water Resources Control Board to scrap the proposal and revert to the 2022 plan. Meanwhile, the administration has weakened federal protections for endangered species. The conflict threatens the Newsom administration’s water deals, with legal battles looming.
The Delta supplies water for nearly 30 million people and 4 million acres of farmland. Native fish like Chinook salmon and steelhead trout have declined due to water reliance. The state plan aims to balance water use and environmental protection, but critics like Gary Bobker of Friends of the River warn it could harm fish and ecosystems. Barry Nelson of the Golden State Salmon Association suggests the Trump administration seeks to weaken environmental protections and maximize water extraction, forcing the Newsom administration to either rewrite the plan or face litigation.
The state water board is accepting public comments until September 18 and will decide on adoption at hearings on October 28–29.
Source: Los Angeles Times
