President Trump is pointing fingers at California’s leaders, blaming them for the recent wildfires that ravaged Los Angeles. He claims the state’s decision to prioritize protecting a small fish, the delta smelt, over sending water to fight the fires is to blame. But experts say the president’s take misses the mark.

The fires, which have been raging across Los Angeles County, have been battled using water from local reservoirs like Castaic Lake. Despite Trump’s claims, water experts in California say the state’s reservoirs were actually well-stocked at the start of the year. They argue that the real challenges in fighting the fires stem from other factors, not a lack of water.

Trump’s criticism isn’t just talk—it could have serious consequences. He’s threatened to withhold federal disaster relief funds unless California redirects more water from its northern regions to the south. On his first day in office, he even signed an executive order titled “Putting People Over Fish,” demanding his cabinet find ways to reroute water within 90 days.

This move reignites long-standing debates over California’s water distribution. The state’s water system is a delicate balance, serving nearly 40 million residents, a massive agricultural industry, and fragile ecosystems. Most of California’s water comes from the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Range, where snowpack melts into rivers and reservoirs. But the majority of the population lives in Southern California, creating a constant tug-of-war over resources.

Experts stress that the issue isn’t as simple as Trump makes it out to be. While his focus is on redirecting water, they argue that the fires’ causes and solutions are far more complex. As the debate heats up, one thing is clear: California’s water woes are far from over.