California Reservoirs Hold 68% of Historical Average Amidst Debunked Wildfire Water Claims

A recent social media post by Kevin Dalton has reignited debate over California's water management, suggesting a contradiction between the state's ability to fight wildfires and other priorities. Dalton's tweet, which stated, "Gavin Newsom’s California: We don’t have enough water to fight wildfires Also Gavin Newsom’s California: [link]," implies a systemic failure in water availability for emergency services. This narrative, however, is largely contradicted by current data and expert analysis regarding the state's water resources.

As of August 25, 2025, California's major reservoirs collectively hold approximately 68% of their historical average storage for this time of year, according to the California Department of Water Resources. This figure indicates robust statewide water reserves, significantly improved by consecutive wet winters in 2023 and 2024. Water officials emphasize that overall water supply is not the primary limiting factor in wildfire suppression efforts.

Experts, including those from the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, consistently state that localized water pressure issues during wildfires are typically due to inadequate municipal infrastructure, not a statewide water shortage. For instance, during recent Los Angeles County wildfires, some hydrants experienced low pressure because local systems were overwhelmed by unprecedented demand, or specific reservoirs were undergoing maintenance. These are localized infrastructure challenges, not a reflection of the state's overall water availability.

Claims linking water scarcity to environmental protections, such as those for the Delta smelt, have been widely debunked by water policy experts. There is no evidence that such protections significantly impact the water available for firefighting. Furthermore, assertions about a "water restoration declaration" that Governor Newsom supposedly refused to sign have been dismissed by his office as "pure fiction."

California continues to invest in water infrastructure and management, including projects like the Delta Conveyance Project, aimed at improving water supply reliability and adapting to climate extremes. These long-term strategies focus on enhancing the state's capacity to capture, store, and deliver water more efficiently. The ongoing public discourse often overlooks these complex realities, instead focusing on politically charged and inaccurate narratives.