A Tiny California Fish That Makes a Big Difference

Thanks to years of work, there was enough supply to keep water flowing to downstream farms and cities until it was safe to turn the pumps back on. But scientists are still worried that the delta smelt is on the edge of extinction and that that the entire Delta is very ill. Other fish, including salmon, sturgeon, striped bass, longfin smelt and threadfin shad are also struggling. They say if we don’t watch out the smelt could be the first in a cascading series of extinctions.

If the Delta can’t support healthy fisheries, then it can’t properly perform its other vital functions either. That’s why the trial in Fresno is so important. The measures we take to protect the smelt are the same measures we need to keep the Delta healthy. One of those measures is to reoperate the pumps so less water is diverted and so the pumps aren’t running at times when the smelt are most vulnerable.

There are other problems that we also need to deal with. Pollution and non-native invasive plants and animals are taking their toll on the Delta environment. But the precipitous decline of the delta smelt coincides with a massive increase in diversions of delta water. These diversions are a fundamental problem that must be addressed.

Most importantly, efforts to protect the delta smelt produce far-reaching benefits. Leaving enough water for the smelt will help keep water in the Delta fresh enough for farmers in the Delta to keep farming. It will help protect the jobs of North Coast salmon fishermen, the recreational economy in the Delta, and the health of Delta communities. For those of us who live here, the fate of the delta smelt could be the fate of our communities.

There’s enough water for both Delta fisheries and downstream water users. But we need to manage and use the water wisely. We need to protect fish from getting sucked up and killed by the pumps. We need to leave enough fresh water in the Delta to keep it healthy. We need to make sure that water is conserved and used efficiently. We can do this while sustaining a clean supply of water for Californians to drink and water our crops.

Restore the Delta is a grassroots campaign of residents and organizations committed to restoring the California Delta so that its waters are fishable, swimmable, drinkable, and farmable.