Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers attempted to pressure the Bureau of Reclamation into activating a California water pump system, falsely claiming President Trump’s directive, despite the system’s inability to reach wildfire-stricken Los Angeles. Undeterred, staffers Tyler Hassen and Bryton Shang traveled to California to personally operate the pumps, but were unsuccessful due to power outages and Shang’s lack of official employee status. Following this, Trump ordered the release of water from Southern California dams, causing concerns among farmers. The White House claims the actions aimed to prevent future tragedies, though experts dispute any link between water shortages and the wildfires.
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Claims that better water management could have prevented the massive California wildfires are unsubstantiated, with experts stating that the fires’ scale surpasses the capabilities of any existing water system. Prominent figures like Elon Musk falsely asserted that water reservoirs were empty, despite official confirmation of their fullness. This misinformation campaign contrasts sharply with the reality on the ground, where firefighters are battling unprecedented devastation. The focus should remain on expert-led firefighting efforts rather than the spread of unsubstantiated claims.
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Rain, the much-awaited savior of the Colorado River. It’s both amusing and slightly alarming to realize that something as basic as precipitation might be the key to pulling the river out of the grips of a two-decade-long drought. The recent study from researchers at CU Boulder sheds light on the importance of rain over temperature in replenishing the Colorado River basin.
The historical context of the Colorado River is fascinating to ponder. With data only going back about 150 years, it’s clear that the last century and a half might have been somewhat of an anomaly in terms of water availability.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker