Former President Donald Trump ignited a heated discussion about California's wildfire response, suggesting that the state's prioritization of endangered species, like the Delta smelt, over water needs has exacerbated the crisis. This critique echoes his long-standing grievances about California's water policies, particularly concerning the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Trump has argued that diverting water to protect the smelt has deprived Californians, especially in central and southern regions, of crucial resources.

This debate resurfaced amidst devastating wildfires that have displaced thousands and caused extensive damage. Reports of firefighters struggling with water shortages fueled the controversy, with some, like former mayoral candidate Rick Caruso, blaming city mismanagement. Caruso criticized the lack of water pressure in fire hydrants, directly impacting firefighting efforts.

Image: Delta smelt at the UC Davis Fish Conservation and Culture Lab. (Randy Pench/Sacramento Bee/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Trump's comments on Truth Social, criticizing Governor Gavin Newsom for prioritizing the "worthless fish," reignited the dispute. He previously voiced similar concerns in an interview with Joe Rogan, describing barren farmland and the diversion of water into the Pacific Ocean. Trump asserted that this practice was to protect a small fish, resulting in water scarcity for agriculture and other needs.

Image: Drought-stricken farmland in Central California. (Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)

Governor Newsom's office countered Trump's accusations, stating that he misrepresents the situation and conflates water conveyance to Southern California with local storage. They maintained that Southern California does not currently face a water shortage and attributed the firefighting challenges to high demand, low pressure in uphill pump stations, and fire-related access issues. They clarified that using water tenders is a standard firefighting practice in such situations.

Image: A California firefighter battling a wildfire. (Kyle Grillot/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

While firefighters have made progress in containing some fires, the situation remains dynamic, with many blazes still burning. The debate over water management and its impact on wildfire response continues amidst the ongoing crisis.