Newsom Orders Increased Water Storage as Environmental Concerns Mount

Overview

• Governor Gavin Newsom has instructed state officials to enhance stormwater storage in San Joaquin Valley reservoirs to support agriculture and local communities.
• This directive follows a similar order from two years ago, now aided by a new law that facilitates such actions during heavy rainfall events.
• Environmental groups warn that diverting water from Delta rivers could harm endangered fish species, including salmon, already facing extinction threats.
• The order has drawn comparisons to recent federal actions under President Trump, who waived environmental protections to increase water pumping from the Delta.
• Farmers and urban water users have welcomed the move, though its timing may limit immediate benefits for agricultural irrigation needs.