Largely threatened due to the need to use pumps to move water through the Delta that the peripheral canal would render moot, this issue continues moving nowhere except to harm the public’s water delivery.
Fish rescue may mean drier times
To save the longfin smelt, a state panel sets new rules for exporting Delta water.
By Matt Weiser - mweiser@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Friday, February 8, 2008
The Bay Area and Southern California could be in for deeper water shortages this year after state officials on Thursday decided to protect another Delta fish.
The California Fish and Game Commission, meeting in San Diego, voted unanimously to protect the longfin smelt under the state Endangered Species Act.
The finger-length fish is now officially a candidate for stronger protection. State officials will spend the coming year deciding whether its status should be "threatened" or "endangered."
Meanwhile, to protect the longfin, the commission also set new rules for state and federal agencies that export water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to 25 million Californians and 2 million acres of farmland.
This could mean drier times ahead for parts of the state already dealing with shortages because of the Delta's troubles.
"It's fair to say this is just another notch in the chokehold that is tightening our ability to move water," said Laura King-Moon of the State Water Contractors, which represents most of the agencies that buy Delta water from the state.
