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Scientists, water managers, and state leaders in California are addressing concerns over misinformation regarding the state's water management. A variety of voices from within the state have weighed in on the matter.
The Association of California Water Agencies has stated that "water supply has not hindered firefighting efforts," with reservoirs at or above average storage levels due to proactive management. Deven Upadhyay from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California confirmed they have enough water stored to meet approximately three years of demand.
Former Los Angeles Department of Water and Power general manager Marty Adams remarked, "There’s way more water in local storage than you could ever fight a fire with." Jennifer Pierre, representing State Water Contractors, emphasized that current policies maximize supply in compliance with law and science.
Academics like Tom Holyke from Fresno State University and Letitia Grenier from the Public Policy Institute of California clarified misconceptions about water transfer and availability. Stephanie Pincetl from UCLA pointed out infrastructure issues rather than water scarcity as challenges during fires.
Community figures such as Peter Gleick criticized federal claims on water policy as mixing "bluster, ignorance, and disinformation." John Buse from the Center for Biological Diversity found certain claims difficult to understand due to their implausibility. Mark Gold highlighted the irresponsibility of linking Bay-Delta management to wildfires amidst record-high stored water levels.
Local entities like LA Water Keeper affirmed no need for increased water deliveries to combat fires. Influencer Jason Wise reiterated reservoir fullness due to recent rains.
Elected officials like Senator Alex Padilla and Assemblymember Isaac G. Bryan rebuked false claims about California's water supply, urging focus on factual understanding. Various media outlets including POLITIFACT, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Calmatters, USA Today, Capital Public Radio, KQED, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Associated Press have fact-checked these claims extensively.
Current facts highlight that Southern California's reservoirs are at record levels with no shortage in sight. The region sources its water roughly equally from Northern California, Colorado River, and local supplies. It is stressed that state operations do not influence local fire response capabilities.
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