Fish Gets New Protections, Could Restrict Delta Water Flow

February 7, 2008

Release from: Garance Burke
Associated Press

FRESNO – California fish and wildlife managers moved forward Thursday with plans to protect a fish species that plays an important ecological role in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a move that could further restrict water pumping throughout the state.

The Fish and Game Commission voted 3-0 Thursday to consider listing the longfin smelt as a threatened or endangered species under state law.

It also adopted emergency regulations requiring state and federal water managers to scale back pumping operations in the next 180 days whenever longfin smelt are near the massive pumps that send water to more than 25 million Southern Californians.

As much as 400,000 acre feet of water could be lost, although it's not known what the full impact might be, said Laura King Moon, assistant general manager of the State Water Contractors Association.

“It raises the risk, the uncertainty for ag contractors if all of a sudden they've put planting in and restrictions are added in the spring,” King Moon said.

Environmental groups blame excessive water pumping from delta for the plummeting of the longfin smelt and their cousin, the delta smelt.

Last summer, a federal judge ordered federal and state water authorities to reduce the amount of water they pump through the delta in a bid to protect the delta smelt.

The pumping restrictions adopted Thursday for the longfin smelt could mean additional stoppages because longfin smelt move into the delta and spawn earlier than the delta smelt, according to a Department of Fish and Game memo.

While authorities review biological information about the fish over the next year, the longfin smelt will benefit from the same protections as endangered species, spokeswoman Adrianna Shea said.

The population of the longfin smelt is 3 percent of the level measured less than 20 years ago, according to a petition filed by the Center of Biological Diversity, which asked the commission to list the species under the California Endangered Species Act.

Surveys by the Department of Fish and Game show the population of the longfin smelt in the of fall 2007 reached their lowest since the surveys began in 1967.

The silvery fish, which grows to about 5 inches long, is distinguished by its long pectoral fins and is considered an indicator of the health of the delta.

“The collapse of the longfin smelt is another alarming indication that the Bay-Delta ecosystem is in critical condition,” Tina Swanson, a senior scientist for The Bay Institute, said in a statement.