Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

PBS and NPR Mount Last-Ditch Fight to Save Federal Funding

15 hours ago

Netanyahu Under Mounting Political Pressure After Party Quits

16 hours ago

Wall Street Opens Higher After Inflation, Bank Results

16 hours ago

Sick of Loud Ads on Netflix? A Proposed California Law Turns Down the Volume

1 day ago

Record Numbers of Americans Say Immigration Is Good for Country: Gallup Poll

2 days ago

In California Strawberry Fields, Immigration Raids Sow Fear

2 days ago

Newsom’s Office Attacks Stephen Miller, Calling Him a ‘Fascist Cuck’

2 days ago

Trump’s Spending Bill Will Likely Boost Costs for Insurers, Shrink Medicaid Coverage

2 days ago
Army Corps General Grilled About Trump's Tulare County Water Dump
SJV-Water
By SJV Water
Published 5 months ago on
February 26, 2025

Army Corps Lt. General William H. Graham received a grilling on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025, about the release of irrigation water in late January from Success and Kaweah lakes in Tulare County. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Even as Kaweah and Success lakes returned to normal operations, with some releases sent into local rivers last week after recent storms, the United States Army Corps of Engineers was being grilled in Washington, D.C. about whether the earlier water dump in January adhered to established practice and “common sense.”

Lisa McEwen

SJV Water

“I’m going to speculate that you have a lot of work to do to regain the trust and confidence of farmers, local stakeholders, scientists and all of us that you’re going to follow common sense and facts rather than an executive order that contradicts all those things,” said Rep. Mike Levin (D-Oceanside) after repeatedly challenging Army Corps Lt. General William H. Graham to explain last month’s releases.

The exchange happened Tuesday during a State of the Civil Works Program oversight hearing.

Levin referred to a Jan. 24 executive order by President Trump that urged federal officials to exert all efforts to get more water to southern California to help fight devastating wildfires.

On Jan. 29, the Army Corps, which operates the dams at Kaweah and Success lakes, notified downstream users they were about to release water “at full capacity,” meaning as much as the rivers could handle.

The notice, which wasn’t shared with local communities, sent water managers scrambling to prepare for flood-level flows. Eventually, the Army Corps agreed to lower flows and the water, about 4,800 acre feet from Kaweah and 2,500 acre feet from Success, didn’t cause any damage and was collected in groundwater recharge ponds.

“How do you respond to the scientists and farmers who say these releases contradicted established flood safety rules, established coordination practices that had been in place with local authorities for decades and just sound science?” — Rep. Mike Levin (D-Oceanside)

Still, the action caused consternation among Tulare County water managers who felt it showed a disconnect between locals and some federal agencies.

“How do you respond to the scientists and farmers who say these releases contradicted established flood safety rules, established coordination practices that had been in place with local authorities for decades and just sound science?” Levin asked Graham.

“I don’t believe I have an answer to that,” Graham responded.

“You have nothing to say to local farmers who are worried about water shortages this summer, or local communities who felt they were out of the loop?” Levin pressed.

“Uh…I don’t have anything else to respond.”

Graham repeatedly stated the releases were done in accordance with the Army Corps’ water manual.

SJV Water sent a Freedom of Information Act request to the Army Corps Feb. 3 asking for internal communications about the January releases to better understand how the decision was made and by whom. The Army Corps has, so far, not provided any documents.

Location map for Lake Kaweah and Lake Success
Locater map for Lake Kaweah and Lake Success (SJV Water)

Kaweah Flood Releases Fill Rivers, Creeks, Ditches

Meanwhile, the current release of excess water from Lake Kaweah, which locals will see flowing in rivers, creeks and ditches for the next few weeks, is part of normal water operations, according to local managers.

The goal is to slowly reduce the amount of “encroached” water behind Terminus Dam at Lake Kaweah from 58,000 acre feet to 45,000 acre feet. The Army Corps typically draws down lakes in fall in anticipation of a wet winter. Water stored above that level is considered “encroached” into that flood control space but is typically allowed during dry winters.

“We are in a flood release ordered by the Army Corps of Engineers,” said Shane Smith, general manager at Kaweah Delta Water Conservation District, which coordinates with dam personnel to direct water westward. “If these flows and releases remain consistent, it will take approximately another two weeks.”

St. John's River Visalia, California
The St. John’s River, fed by storm releases from Lake Kaweah, will be full through Visalia for the next several weeks. (SJV Water/Lisa McEwen)

Daily outflow is holding steady at about 1,000 cubic feet per second while inflow from recent rain and snow in the Kaweah River watershed is at about 500 cubic feet per second.

Lake Success Is at 39% Capacity

To the south, Schafer Dam at Lake Success near Porterville is not in a flood release as Tule River inflow is at about 333 cfs and its pool level is holding steady at about 32,000 acre feet, or about 39% full.

Smith explained Visalians are seeing water flowing through town in Mill Creek because it is one of the main channels used to divert water from the Lower Kaweah River to farmers and other water users.

Excess water released in February is not an ideal time for farmers as crops don’t need much irrigation.

But James Silva, manager of Consolidated Peoples Ditch Company and several other ditch companies, said growers are taking water for pre-irrigation tasks and recharge.

“The timing of a flood release doesn’t always work for every grower,” he said. “But the benefit is pre-irrigation. They are able to use surface water to meet these demands rather than using deep wells.”

Pre-irrigation can help decrease pests and control weeds by drowning roots.

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

So Your Doctor Is a DO. Does That Matter?

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Found Dead After Hike Near Courtright Reservoir

DON'T MISS

Former US Army Soldier Pleads Guilty in Phone Company Hacking, Extortion Case

DON'T MISS

Fresno City Attorney Briefly Ineligible to Practice Law, Cites State Bar Error

DON'T MISS

Grass Fire East of Sanger Contained at 21 Acres, CalFire Says

DON'T MISS

Age Is Just a Number: 80-Year-Old Conquers Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Ultramarathon

DON'T MISS

What to Know About the Epstein Files, a Perfect Recipe for Conspiracy Theories

DON'T MISS

US Military to Remove 2,000 National Guard Troops From Los Angeles

DON'T MISS

Mexico Pledges Action Should US Talks Fail by August Tariff Deadline

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Armed Man Found Asleep in Car

UP NEXT

Fresno Man Found Dead After Hike Near Courtright Reservoir

UP NEXT

Former US Army Soldier Pleads Guilty in Phone Company Hacking, Extortion Case

UP NEXT

Fresno City Attorney Briefly Ineligible to Practice Law, Cites State Bar Error

UP NEXT

Grass Fire East of Sanger Contained at 21 Acres, CalFire Says

UP NEXT

Age Is Just a Number: 80-Year-Old Conquers Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Ultramarathon

UP NEXT

What to Know About the Epstein Files, a Perfect Recipe for Conspiracy Theories

UP NEXT

US Military to Remove 2,000 National Guard Troops From Los Angeles

UP NEXT

Mexico Pledges Action Should US Talks Fail by August Tariff Deadline

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Arrest Armed Man Found Asleep in Car

UP NEXT

Trump Says Democratic Rival Schiff Should Be ‘Brought to Justice’ for Alleged Fraud

Fresno City Attorney Briefly Ineligible to Practice Law, Cites State Bar Error

8 hours ago

Grass Fire East of Sanger Contained at 21 Acres, CalFire Says

8 hours ago

Age Is Just a Number: 80-Year-Old Conquers Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Ultramarathon

8 hours ago

What to Know About the Epstein Files, a Perfect Recipe for Conspiracy Theories

8 hours ago

US Military to Remove 2,000 National Guard Troops From Los Angeles

8 hours ago

Mexico Pledges Action Should US Talks Fail by August Tariff Deadline

8 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Armed Man Found Asleep in Car

8 hours ago

Trump Says Democratic Rival Schiff Should Be ‘Brought to Justice’ for Alleged Fraud

9 hours ago

Madera County Authorities Seeks Help Finding Missing Bass Lake Man

10 hours ago

Crypto Bills Hit Procedural Snag in Congress

10 hours ago

So Your Doctor Is a DO. Does That Matter?

By most measures, osteopathic medicine is a profession in its prime. The number of doctors of osteopathic medicine, or DOs, has grown 70% in...

6 hours ago

The number of osteopathic doctors has increased dramatically. People still don’t know what they are. (Sonia Pulido/The New York Times)
6 hours ago

So Your Doctor Is a DO. Does That Matter?

7 hours ago

Fresno Man Found Dead After Hike Near Courtright Reservoir

A hooded man holds a laptop computer as cyber code is projected on him in this illustration picture taken on May 13, 2017. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Former US Army Soldier Pleads Guilty in Phone Company Hacking, Extortion Case

8 hours ago

Fresno City Attorney Briefly Ineligible to Practice Law, Cites State Bar Error

A grass fire east of Sanger burned 21 acres Tuesday, July 15, 2025, afternoon before being contained, CalFire said. (CalFire)
8 hours ago

Grass Fire East of Sanger Contained at 21 Acres, CalFire Says

8 hours ago

Age Is Just a Number: 80-Year-Old Conquers Death Valley to Mt. Whitney Ultramarathon

Jack Posobiec, a far-right political activist, carries a binder labeled “The Epstein Files: Phase 1” as he exits the White House in Washington, Feb. 27, 2025. Here’s what to know about the disturbing facts and unsubstantiated suspicions that make Jeffrey Epstein, a registered sex offender, a politically potent obsession. (Haiyun Jiang/The New York Times)
8 hours ago

What to Know About the Epstein Files, a Perfect Recipe for Conspiracy Theories

A demonstrator raises his hand holding flowers as members of the National Guard stand in formation outside a federal building during the No Kings protest against U.S. President Donald Trump's policies, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., June 14, 2025. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

US Military to Remove 2,000 National Guard Troops From Los Angeles

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend