LESS NEWS. MORE CONTEXT. — BUILDING TRUST. DELIVERING CREDIBILITY.
2026
CALIFORNIA’S WATER NETWORK (A DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM):
ENGINEERING TRIUMPHS, ENDURING CHALLENGES
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HELLO EVERYONE,
Welcome to Sling News Special Edition. Recently, we had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Jay Lund, Vice Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at UC Davis, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and a member of the US National Academy of Engineering. Dr. Lund provided expert insights into the pressing issues surrounding California’s water supply and management.
POINT NUMBER ONE: To begin, it’s important to clarify for our audience that, contrary to President Trump’s assertions, there is no ‘giant faucet’ in California. Such statements likely stem from a misunderstanding or are intended as a figure of speech. In fact, California’s water systems are decentralized and operate with high efficiency, given the considerable complexity of transporting water throughout the State.
POINT NUMBER TWO: Dr. Jay Lund notes that California’s water system is regarded as one of the world’s finest. Nevertheless, it remains imperfect, and there is always opportunity for further improvement.
POINT NUMBER THREE: Dr. Lund further emphasized that groundwater represents the largest form of water storage in California. However, he also cautioned that this critical resource is finite.
POINT NUMBER FOUR: Dr. Lund explained that water system management in California is highly complex and decentralized. Governor Newsom is only one of many key leaders in the State involved in navigating and overseeing this sophisticated infrastructure.
POINT NUMBER FIVE: Dr. Lund further emphasized that California’s environment—especially its native fish and wetlands—remains significantly at risk. In regions like the Sacramento Valley, a growing number of farmers are collaborating with environmental organizations, recognizing that healthy rivers and robust fish populations are vital to the state’s future.
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FACT-CHECK
CALIFORNIA “WATER RELEASE” DEBATE: BALANCING ECOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE
IS CALIFORNIA REALLY “DUMPING WATER IN THE OCEAN”?
SLING NEWS: Is the accusation that Governor Gavin Newsom is “dumping water in the ocean”—a claim frequently advanced by President Trump and various Central Valley lawmakers and farmers, who argue that environmental regulations constitute an irresponsible misallocation of water that could otherwise serve agriculture or cities—an accurate assessment, or does it reduce California’s highly complex water management challenges to a misleading narrative?
SLING NEWS: Yes, California is required by law to allow large volumes of fresh water to flow from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to the Pacific Ocean. While this practice is controversial—especially among farmers and water officials who view it as a lost resource during dry periods—the primary purpose is to safeguard threatened species such as the Delta Smelt and to preserve the ecological balance of the Delta. These environmental releases help keep saltwater from moving inland and carry away contaminants, but critics believe improved water management and storage could reduce the need for such extensive outflows.
FACT-CHECK: IN CALIFORNIA, WATER DOES NOT FLOW FROM A SINGLE FAUCET. PRESIDENT TRUMP’S STATEMENT REFERS TO A DIFFERENT SYSTEM—SUCH AS A LARGE VALVE OR THE LOS ANGELES AQUEDUCT—OR IS SIMPLY A FIGURE OF SPEECH.
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FACT-CHECK
IN CALIFORNIA, THERE’S NO ‘GIANT FAUCET’:
NAVIGATING TRUMP’S WATER SOLUTIONS AND STATE REALITIES
SLING NEWS (UC DAVIS): Politicians from both parties, including President Trump, have long pledged to deliver more water to California’s farms and cities. But Jay Lund warns that the State’s elaborate system is no “giant faucet”—moving water is a feat of logistics and policy, not simply turning a valve. “There’s always going to be some dissatisfaction, especially among Central Valley farmers”, he said. In other words, managing California’s water is a balancing act, and quick fixes are rare.
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FULL INTERVIEW
CALIFORNIA’S WATER NETWORK (A DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM):
ENGINEERING TRIUMPHS, ENDURING CHALLENGES
Jay Lund, Vice-Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis
SLING NEWS (UC DAVIS): California’s agricultural dominance rests not on favorable weather but on a vast, meticulously engineered water infrastructure. With almost no rain falling during the vital growing season, the State’s $50 billion farming industry is largely propped up by an intricate network of aqueducts, reservoirs, and groundwater basins. “It’s not summer rain that makes California’s agriculture so productive”, said Jay Lund, Vice-Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis. “It’s our ability to move and manage water on an enormous scale.”
From the parched deserts of the south to the lush wetlands of the north, California’s water system is a marvel of modern engineering, operated by dozens of agencies. The challenge: ensuring that water flows where and when it is needed most, often moving it vast distances to bridge the gap between wet and dry regions, and between seasons of plenty and years of drought. “The system must function as a unified whole”, Lund said. That means moving water not just between seasons, but across years—using storage, groundwater, and a labyrinthine network of canals and aqueducts.
The result is a system composed of thousands of miles of aqueducts, hundreds of reservoirs, and an untold number of groundwater basins. Keeping this intricate machine running is expensive: annual costs run into the billions, even as the benefits to California’s economy are measured in the millions. Lund notes that other regions—such as the Pacific Northwest, with its vast hydropower grid, or the Missouri River’s extensive management network—face similar challenges, but few match California’s scale and complexity. To manage this complexity, Lund and his colleagues have developed sophisticated computer models that simulate the State’s web of water uses and supplies. These models have become essential for forecasting droughts, testing conservation strategies, and evaluating the impacts of a warming climate. “Modeling allows us to test ideas at a fraction of the cost of real-world implementation”, Lund said. “Building new infrastructure can cost billions, but with computer models, we can explore solutions for just thousands.”
While Lund calls California’s water management system among the world’s best, he notes that it remains far from perfect. The State’s history, he said, is one of constant adaptation. Early European settlers, expecting summer rains, instead found dry fields and were forced to invent new ways to irrigate. Out of necessity, farmers joined forces to build irrigation networks that would have been impossible for any one landowner to afford—laying the groundwork for today’s powerful water agencies. Lund draws historical parallels, noting that while the Romans pioneered aqueducts, California’s engineers now move water across far greater distances. Groundwater, he said, is the State’s main reserve—banked during wet years and tapped during drought. But decades of over-pumping, especially in the San Joaquin Valley, have caused water tables to collapse and even dried up Tulare Lake. The crisis prompted the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which gives local agencies until 2040 to restore balance. “We’ve come a long way from the days of lead pipes,” Lund said, crediting modern materials for safer, more reliable water delivery.
Politicians from both parties, including President Trump, have long pledged to deliver more water to California’s farms and cities. But Lund warns that the State’s elaborate system is no “giant faucet”—moving water is a feat of logistics and policy, not simply turning a valve. “There’s always going to be some dissatisfaction, especially among Central Valley farmers,” he said. In other words, managing California’s water is a balancing act, and quick fixes are rare. One of the system’s strengths, Lund added, is its decentralized management. No single official—not even the governor—holds absolute control. Instead, decisions are debated among dozens of agencies and stakeholders, a process that may slow progress but also prevents hasty mistakes.
California’s economic muscle and organizational sophistication put it at the forefront of water management, Lund said, but the State’s environment—especially its native fish and wetlands—remains at risk. While cities have adapted and agriculture continues to thrive, the struggle to balance water for people, farms, and ecosystems is ongoing. In places like the Sacramento Valley, many farmers have started collaborating with environmental groups, recognizing that healthy rivers and robust fish populations are crucial for everyone’s future.
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CALIFORNIANS REACT TO TRUMP’S PLAN TO REDIRECT NORTHERN WATER, SOUTH
SLING NEWS: In the initial phase of our survey-interviews on President Trump’s proposal to redirect water from the San Joaquin Delta/Sacramento region to Central California farmlands, we asked California residents whether Trump’s claim of solving water shortages by simply “turning on a giant faucet/giant valve” in Northern California and diverting mountain-fed water southward is feasible. We specifically explored whether respondents believe the President is providing genuine leadership or disseminating misinformation on this complex issue. Preliminary responses are presented below.
As data collection continues, we will analyze the broader implications for the Trump Administration’s constituency and public perception.
UNTANGLING THE COMPLEX REALITY OF CALIFORNIA’S WATER SYSTEM
SLING NEWS: President Trump is implementing a plan to redirect water from the San Joaquin Delta/Sacramento region to central California farmlands, drawing criticism from some groups over potential environmental impacts on endangered fish species. Trump claims to have a plan to address water shortages by turning on a “giant faucet/giant valve” in Northern California and diverting ice- or mountain-fed water from the north to Southern California. But California’s water system, far from being operated by a “giant faucet,” is instead a labyrinth of reservoirs, snowmelt, and carefully orchestrated transfers. There is no single lever to reroute the state’s water supply at will. Instead, experts—perhaps disappointingly—insist that water management is a matter of legal statutes, scientific analysis, and extensive infrastructure rather than a whimsical plumbing fixture.
To provide clarity, we will (continue to) consult with experts and authorities on this matter.
CALIFORNIA’S WATER SYSTEM: WORLD-CLASS BUT NOT FLAWLESS
SLING NEWS (UC DAVIS): While Dr. Jay Lund calls California’s water management system among the world’s best, he notes that it remains far from perfect. The State’s history, he said, is one of constant adaptation. Early European settlers, expecting summer rains, instead found dry fields and were forced to invent new ways to irrigate. Out of necessity, farmers joined forces to build irrigation networks that would have been impossible for any one landowner to afford—laying the groundwork for today’s powerful water agencies. Lund draws historical parallels, noting that while the Romans pioneered aqueducts, California’s engineers now move water across far greater distances.
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GROUNDWATER: CALIFORNIA’S LARGEST WATER RESERVE
SLING NEWS (UC DAVIS): Groundwater, Dr. Jay Lund said, is the State’s main reserve—banked during wet years and tapped during drought. But decades of over-pumping, especially in the San Joaquin Valley, have caused water tables to collapse and even dried up Tulare Lake. The crisis prompted the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act, which gives local agencies until 2040 to restore balance. “We’ve come a long way from the days of lead pipes,” Lund said, crediting modern materials for safer, more reliable water delivery.
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AS WATER PROBLEMS PERSIST, CALIFORNIA’S ENDANGERED HABITATS SUFFER THE MOST
SLING NEWS (UC DAVIS): California’s economic muscle and organizational sophistication put it at the forefront of water management, Jay Lund said, but the State’s environment—especially its native fish and wetlands—remains at risk. While cities have adapted and agriculture continues to thrive, the struggle to balance water for people, farms, and ecosystems is ongoing. In places like the Sacramento Valley, many farmers have started collaborating with environmental groups, recognizing that healthy rivers and robust fish populations are crucial for everyone’s future.
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GOVERNOR NEWSOM–ONE OF MANY: CALIFORNIA’S WATER DECISIONS REQUIRE CONSENSUS
SLING NEWS (UC DAVIS): California’s Water Network–One of the system’s strengths, Jay Lund added, is its decentralized management. No single official—not even the governor—holds absolute control. Instead, decisions are debated among dozens of agencies and stakeholders, a process that may slow progress but also prevents hasty mistakes.
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COUNTING THE COST: THE PRICE OF KEEPING CALIFORNIA’S WATER FLOWING
SLING NEWS (UC DAVIS): From the parched deserts of the south to the lush wetlands of the north, California’s water system is a marvel of modern engineering, operated by dozens of agencies. The challenge: ensuring that water flows where and when it is needed most, often moving it vast distances to bridge the gap between wet and dry regions, and between seasons of plenty and years of drought. “The system must function as a unified whole”, Lund said. That means moving water not just between seasons, but across years—using storage, groundwater, and a labyrinthine network of canals and aqueducts. The result is a system composed of thousands of miles of aqueducts, hundreds of reservoirs, and an untold number of groundwater basins.
Keeping this intricate machine running is expensive: annual costs run into the billions, even as the benefits to California’s economy are measured in the millions. Lund notes that other regions—such as the Pacific Northwest, with its vast hydropower grid, or the Missouri River’s extensive management network—face similar challenges, but few match California’s scale and complexity. To manage this complexity, Lund and his colleagues have developed sophisticated computer models that simulate the State’s web of water uses and supplies. These models have become essential for forecasting droughts, testing conservation strategies, and evaluating the impacts of a warming climate. “Modeling allows us to test ideas at a fraction of the cost of real-world implementation,” Lund said. “Building new infrastructure can cost billions, but with computer models, we can explore solutions for just thousands.”
****************************************************
CALIFORNIA’S WATER NETWORK (A DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM):
ENGINEERING TRIUMPHS, ENDURING CHALLENGES
SLING NEWS (UC DAVIS): California’s agricultural dominance rests not on favorable weather but on a vast, meticulously engineered water infrastructure. With almost no rain falling during the vital growing season, the State’s $50 billion farming industry is largely propped up by an intricate network of aqueducts, reservoirs, and groundwater basins. “It’s not summer rain that makes California’s agriculture so productive,” said Jay Lund, Vice-Director of the Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis. “It’s our ability to move and manage water on an enormous scale.”
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