California, feds waive delta fish protections to boost water delivery

https://www.eenews.net/articles/california-feds-waive-delta-fish-protections-to-boost-water-delivery/

By Camille von Kaenel
10/02/2024 12:27 PM EDT

SACRAMENTO, California — State and federal water managers started on Tuesday to pump more water to cities and farmers instead of keeping it in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Bay Delta for a protected fish.

The decision follows and growing scientific research they’ve paid for showing that keeping lots of pressure from water users water flowing through the delta in the fall has done little to help declining populations of the endangered delta smelt.

Excerpt:

…environmental groups decried the decision.

“The rules protecting fish only work when they are enforced,” said Chris Shutes, executive director of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, in a press release. “But adaptive mis-management is making the rules optional each time water contractors clamor for more water.”

Read more at https://www.eenews.net/articles/california-feds-waive-delta-fish-protections-to-boost-water-delivery/