Newsom Seeks Cooperation with Trump on Northern California Water Initiative

COLUSA, Calif.—Governor Gavin Newsom highlighted a water infrastructure initiative in Northern California that he believes the incoming Trump administration could champion, during the fourth stop of his Jobs First tour on December 10.

A long-standing priority for the governor, the Sites Reservoir is a $4 billion venture aimed at capturing enough water to meet the annual needs of 3 million households during wet months, storing it for later use.

He emphasized that a productive partnership between federal and state governments can lead to mutual benefits and foster innovation and scientific breakthroughs, covering areas from research and development to infrastructure and education.

“We maintain an open hand, not a closed fist, across a spectrum of issues,” Newsom expressed to The Epoch Times. “My hope is to keep reaching out to find common ground, but we mustn’t be naïve.”

He pointed out that some of Trump’s prior actions seemed aimed at reversing progress, stressing the need to stay vigilant regarding policy decisions that could affect the state.

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The incoming president’s team indicated a focus on policies aimed at strengthening national interests and stimulating the economy.

“President Trump will act swiftly to repair and revive an economy that prioritizes American workers by bringing back jobs to the U.S., reducing inflation, increasing real wages, cutting taxes, reducing regulations, and promoting American energy,” Karoline Leavitt, a spokesperson for the Trump–Vance transition team, stated in an email to The Epoch Times.

After Trump’s reelection victory, Newsom convened a special session of the Legislature to prepare for litigation, ultimately allocating $25 million for this purpose.

California launched over 120 lawsuits against the first Trump administration.

Almost 63 percent of voters in Colusa County backed Trump this year, reflecting an increase of over 5 percent from 2020.

Since Election Day, Newsom has toured four more conservative areas—Colusa, Fresno, and Kern counties, as well as the border in San Diego County—on his jobs initiative.

Participants of the California Jobs First Capital Region collaborative accompanied the governor to unveil their strategy for the eight-county Capital Region, which includes Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba counties.

Newsom commented that excessive litigation and NIMBYism are contributing factors preventing the state from seizing opportunities.

“We need to clear the obstacles in our path,” he remarked. “The systems we created have become our competition. We are bogged down by procedures and are often paralyzed by them.”

He urged the state to revise its economic development strategies, focusing on solutions tailored to specific regions.

Leaders across the state’s 13 regions will present their plans over the coming months aimed at promoting job growth.

The state’s economic strategy and $120 million in grants are expected to be introduced early next year to support various industries, including biotechnology, manufacturing, and natural resources.

By concentrating on strategic trade sectors, each job created can lead to up to three additional jobs in that region, based on estimates from the governor’s office.

With agriculture-related water issues being a pivotal concern in the Central Valley, the state aims to boost storage capacity by 4 million acre-feet, managing both underground and surface water supply.

Enhancing water storage and maintaining infrastructure will not only gain wide support for the local economy but also foster a sustainable future for those relying on regional water sources, according to advocates of the employment plan.

Another water initiative supported by the governor—the Delta Conveyance Project—aims to develop a tunnel for transporting water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta throughout the state, reaching from the Bay Area to Southern California.