For Immediate Release:
January 9, 2025
Contact:
Alexandra Nagy, alexandra@sunstonestrategies.org
In light of the devastating wildfires raging in Los Angeles County, our hearts and unwavering support go out to the communities enduring these catastrophic events. As Californians face this crisis, it’s critical to combat misinformation that obscures the facts and misdirects blame.
Recent statements falsely link California’s water policies to the tragic fires inSouthern California. These claims, fact-checked by CNN and CalMatters, distort the truth about our state’s water management and firefighting resources.
According to CNN:
“Experts on California water policy said… there is no basis for linking the existence of the Southern California fires or challenges in the firefighting effort to the water that is kept in the north of the state to protect the smelt and other species and ecosystems. Southern California does not have a shortage of water for fighting the fires.”
Dr. Mark Gold, water scarcity director at NRDC, underscored this inCalMatters:
“Tying Bay-Delta management into devastating wildfires that have cost people’s lives and homes is nothing short of irresponsible… Metropolitan Water District has the most water stored in its system in the history of the agency.”
For the official record, reservoirs in Los Angeles are full. The challenges incombating these fires arise from extreme winds, arid brush conditions, and regional infrastructure constraints in Southern California — not water scarcity or environmental protections.
Misleading remarks distract from urgent climate resilience efforts. We call for solidarity and solutions that prioritize the safety and well-being of Californians, not divisive rhetoric.
Let us focus on supporting impacted communities and ensuring that firefighting resources are robust and responsive to the escalating threats posed by a warming climate.
In Case You Missed It
Delta Flows Podcast: Dr. Caleb Scoville Demystifies the Politics of the Delta Smelt
Tune in and learn about how the Delta smelt got tied up with Big Ag, California Water Wars, and national political divide. How have these widespread narratives affected the species as a whole and environmental justice communities in the region? What happens when scientific data goes into the wrong hands?
LISTEN HERE:
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Apple
Captivate
Amazon
YouTube
The Delta smelt, a small fish that is an indicator species for the Bay-Delta estuary and is in massive population decline, has faced media onslaught from conservative news outlets over the years, reframing how the fish is seen. This episode explores the controversies surrounding the Delta smelt with Dr. Caleb Scoville, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Tufts University.
Media Review of Right-Wing Narratives on the Delta smelt
Learn more about Dr. Caleb Scoville’s work here:
The Delta Smelt Controversy in Sociological Perspective
Visit his website or Google Scholar for more academic perspectives.
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The health of the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary and Delta communities remains our top priority for 2025.
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