Give us a call at 877-52-WATER (877-529-2837), or email us at info@watertoday.ca

From the National Archives, Harry S Truman Library Museum, the President cannot make or interpret laws, cannot declare war, cannot decide how federal money is spent, and cannot appoint Cabinet members or Supreme Court justices without Senate approval. These limitations on the power of the Office of President are worth bearing in mind as the public sorts through the intent expressed in Executive Orders.

A recent WT Safe Drinking Water Act article profiled the city of McKinleyville, CA situated on the edge of Redwood National Forest, an International Biosphere Reserve protecting half of the world's old growth redwoods. These giant trees are a World Heritage Site, dating back 200 million years to the Jurassic period, and home of the world's tallest tree. According to Guinness World Records, the 600 to 800 year old sequoia sempervirens nicknamed "Hyperion" measured more than 380 ft in 2019, 53 ft above the closest contender. The redwoods contribute to the stability of the arid southwest. The giant trees consume a tremendous volume of atmospheric carbon and cycle water, inhaling mist and fog, releasing moisture through transpiration, providing the vital summer rains that replenish drinking water sources.


The 1978 Redwood National Park Expansion Act limited logging activity in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties during a time of intense lobbying to save jobs and preserve communities. Leaders are always challenged to balance economics of resource consumption with preservation of the factors necessary to sustain healthy communities. According to the National Forest Service, 20% of US drinking water comes from National Forest managed areas. "National forests and grasslands supply some of the highest quality surface waters in the country, yielding some of the best drinking water and industrial process water sources." If the security of US water resources is to be shelved for domestic timber production, where then the water security?

Clearcut was halted in the redwood forest in 1978 in favor of balance, in favor of other significant security issues, including clean water and maintenance of the fragile southwest hydrologic cycle. The loggers were laid off, the local economy retracted. Forty-eight thousand acres with 300 miles of logging roads were added to the Park, the ecological services provided by this vital forest resource preserved for half a century under protection of federal law.

Executive Order March 1, 2025 "Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production"

Hyperion may have been spared the axe in the Carter era, however it remains to be seen whether the world's tallest tree will survive the current push to cut back on international trade in favor of increasing domestic production. The expressed intent to expand logging of National Forest resources is clear in the backgrounder to the EO, citing "burdensome Federal policies have prevented full utilization of these resources". The rush to fill military and construction industry demand with domestic timber includes a clause to expedite the review process required under the Endangered Species Act. As up to 40% of annual rainfall is dependent on transpiration from plants and trees, it is concerning that no mention is made of ensuring the continuity of the water cycle, let alone the tremendous role of the forest in sequestering carbon. There is no mention of source water protection.

As the Executive Branch intends to stack all US forest resources on the block for timber production, one has to wonder about water security. Echoing our concerns, the Financial Post has just published an opinion piece about an implied threat to Canada's water resources. As trade with Canada is cancelled in favor of domestic logging, mining and drilling, it seems fair to presume water security will be challenged in the USA. Just last week, the Supreme Court rolled back Clean Water Act provisions for source water protection. It seems entirely plausible that the US could soon be grasping for water security by moving to divert trans-boundary water like the Columbia River and the Great Lakes.

We reached out to Earthjustice for comment on the possibility of the March 1 Executive Order eventually leading to logging in the protected Redwood National Park. According to a spokesperson at Earthjustice representing the group of colleagues contributing to our request, "The order seeks to make it easier for logging to occur within federal forests overseen by the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. It’s too early to say what specific lands could be targeted for logging."

Earthjustice went on to provide some necessary context about the power of the Executive Branch of government in issuing Executive Orders. "First, it's important to remember that an executive order is not a law. The National Archives Harry S Truman Library resources support this statement, stating the Office of the President can enforce the laws that Congress passes, can set priorities within the law, and can make suggestions for new laws.