# 2025-02174: Feds Override Rules to Pump Water After California Wildfires 2025-02174, Emergency Measures To Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas, is a Federal Register presidential document from Executive Office of the President published 2025-01-31, effective 2025-01-24; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-04). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02174 - As of: 2026-11-04 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2025-02174 - Title: Emergency Measures To Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain Areas - Type: Presidential Document - Agencies: Executive Office of the President - Citation: 90 FR 8747 - Published: 2025-01-31 - Effective: 2025-01-24 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: none - Last updated: 2026-11-04 ## In one line Feds Override Rules to Pump Water After California Wildfires ## Summary California’s wildfires have caused huge damage and loss, so the federal government is stepping in to make sure Southern California gets the water it needs to fight fires and recover faster. Several top officials must act quickly—within 15 days—to unlock emergency powers and fix water problems, even if local rules get in the way. This plan aims to save lives, protect homes, and speed up disaster recovery with big changes starting right now. ## Effects PRIA read - Federal Override to Supply Water: benefit, high. The federal government ordered top agencies to ensure Southern California gets the water needed to fight wildfires and recover, even if State or local rules would block it. Several Cabinet officials must report to the President within 15 days about authorities and emergency powers they can use to s… - CVP Operated to Deliver More Water: benefit, high. The Secretary of the Interior (through the Bureau of Reclamation) is ordered to operate the Central Valley Project (CVP) to deliver more water and produce additional hydropower, by increasing storage and conveyance and jointly operating federal and state facilities, notwithstanding contrary State o… - Expedited ESA Actions for Water Projects: benefit, medium. The order directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce to expedite action related to any exemption under the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) for long-term operation of the CVP and the State Water Project for applicable threatened and endangered species. The Se… - Fast-Track Water Project Reviews: benefit, medium. The Secretaries of the Interior and Commerce must identify major water-supply and storage projects in California for which they have NEPA or ESA responsibilities and each designate a federal official to coordinate compliance. Within 30 days each designated official must identify regulatory hurdles… - Review of Federal Support for California: cost, medium. The Director of OMB will review all Federal programs and activities that affect land management, water supply, water infrastructure, and disaster preparedness to identify where California policies are inconsistent with sound disaster prevention. Within 30 days the Secretaries of the Interior, Agric… - Housing Relief for Los Angeles Survivors: benefit, high. HUD and DHS (through FEMA) must quickly provide an Integrated Federal Housing Strategy and Implementation Plan to OMB and White House advisors that expedites housing options for survivors displaced by wildfires in California. This is intended to speed access to temporary and longer-term housing rel… - Fast Debris Removal for Rebuilding: benefit, medium. Within 5 days of the order, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Security (through FEMA), and the EPA must develop and execute a plan to expedite bulk removal of contaminated and general debris in areas devastated by the Los Angeles wildfires. Faster debris removal is meant to accele… - Los Angeles Preparedness Grants Rules: mixed, medium. The order directs FEMA to implement a plan to enable timely use of Federal preparedness grants for the City of Los Angeles; as of the date of the order the city has yet to use the majority of a $213 million allotment that has accrued since fiscal year 2021. The order also states these Federal prepa… - North Carolina Road Clearance Aid: benefit, medium. To speed rebuilding after Hurricane Helene, the Secretary of Transportation, DHS (through FEMA), and the SBA will take measures including direct assistance, loans, and other means to expedite roadway clearance or rebuilding, including the section of Interstate 40 in North Carolina that remains clos… - Housing Relief for Hurricane Survivors: benefit, high. HUD and DHS (through FEMA) must immediately provide an Integrated Federal Housing Strategy and Implementation Plan to OMB and White House advisors that expedites housing options for survivors displaced by Hurricane Helene in North Carolina. This is intended to speed access to temporary and longer-t… ## Related documents - [2026-22385](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22385): Adjusting Imports of Robotics, Industrial Machinery, and Their Parts and Components Into the United States, 2026-11-02 - [2026-22292](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22292): Further Modifying the Scope of Products of Canada Subject to the Additional Duties Imposed To Offset Canadian Discrimination Against the Co…, 2026-10-30 - [2026-22051](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22051): Decreasing Housing Costs for the American People, 2026-10-28 - [2026-22052](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22052): Presidential Determination Pursuant to Section 303 of the Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended, on Domestic Petroleum Production, Ref…, 2026-10-28 - [2026-22049](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22049): Adjusting Imports of Wind Turbines and Their Parts and Components Into the United States, 2026-10-28 - [2026-22050](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-22050): National Seafood Month, 2026, 2026-10-28 ## Sources - [2025-02174 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/01/31/2025-02174/emergency-measures-to-provide-water-resources-in-california-and-improve-disaster-response-in-certain) - [2025-02174 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-01-31/pdf/2025-02174.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2025-02173, Council To Assess the Federal Emergency Management Agency](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02173) - [Next: 2025-02175, Enforcing the Hyde Amendment](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02175) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-02174 (as of 2026-11-04).