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U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla on Friday wrote to newly-confirmed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to demand answers regarding a Trump administration order to release water from two dams in the Central Valley — a move the California senator said could “endanger” local communities.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased water releases from Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah and Schafer Dam at Lake Success in Tulare County on Friday, sending water towards farmlands in the San Joaquin Valley, the Los Angeles Times reported.
“I write regarding the troubling unscheduled release of water from two dams in California’s Central Valley by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers following President Trump’s Executive Order falsely linking statewide water policies to the wildfires in Los Angeles,” said Padilla in his letter to Hegseth. “As I’m sure the Administration is aware, the rivers into which this water was released do not actually flow into Los Angeles.”
He continued, “unscheduled water releases require close coordination with local officials and safety personnel, as well as downstream agricultural water users, in order to reduce flood risks to communities and farms. Based on the urgent concerns I have heard from my constituents, as well as recent reporting, it appears that gravely insufficient notification was given, recklessly endangering residents downstream.”
Padilla continued to ask Hegseth who directed the water release, how and when public safety personnel were notified of the release, and what impact the water release will have on Tulare communities. Padilla also asked the administration how it planned to transport the water, if it indeed was for the wildfires.
The two biggest fires in the Los Angeles area, the Eaton and Palisades fires, were both 100% contained as of Friday, according to Cal Fire.
“Clarity and transparency on these matters are crucial to ensure that the public is properly informed, that proper procedures are followed, and that any actions taken in the name of protecting against natural disasters will have the intended impact,” said Padilla.
Reach Jordan Parker: Jordan.Parker@sfchronicle.com
