Environment

Trump Administration Looks To Maximize Pumping From California Water Project

By The Associated Press

Published December 29, 2017 at 10:00 AM PST

This story was published more than 6 years ago.

California's Central Valley Basin includes two major watersheds--the Sacramento River on the north and the San Joaquin River on the south--that extend nearly 500 miles from northwest to southeast and range from about 60 to 100 miles wide.

The Trump administration says it will look at ramping up water deliveries to farmers from California's massive and environmentally sensitive Central Valley Project.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation said Friday it will look for ways to change the operation of the water project to maximize water for California farmers and others.

The Central Valley Project is the largest federal water project. It includes 500 miles of canals and aqueducts tapping into the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Central Valley farmers complain that protections for endangered native fish keep them from getting all the water the farmers want, especially in drought.

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Doug Obegi of the Natural Resources Defense Council environmental group contends the Trump administration is trying to roll back protections for salmon and other endangered native species.