“California’s Water Wars: New Rules Spark Controversy Over Fish Protections”
The Biden and Newsom administrations are set to implement new rules for California’s major water delivery systems that will impact how much water can be pumped from rivers while also providing protections for endangered fish species. However, California environmental groups are expressing concerns over the proposed changes, warning that the plans may not do enough to safeguard fish species that are at risk of extinction in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and San Francisco Bay.
The preferred proposal, outlined in a federal draft environmental review, has been criticized by Jon Rosenfield, the science director for San Francisco Baykeeper, who believes that the new rules could worsen the situation for endangered species in the Bay Delta. Rosenfield emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that six endangered species are on the brink of extinction or are rapidly declining.
The rules being revised govern the operations of dams, aqueducts, and pumping plants in California’s Central Valley Project and State Water Project, which supply water to millions of acres of farmland and over 25 million people. The pumping activities have contributed to the degradation of the Delta, where threatened and endangered fish species such as steelhead trout, Chinook salmon, longfin smelt, Delta smelt, and green sturgeon reside.
The process of rewriting the rules began nearly three years ago following legal challenges against the Trump administration’s previous rules, which were deemed inadequate in protecting endangered fish species. Federal and state agencies are now working to finalize the new rules amid uncertainties surrounding the presidential election.
While state officials believe that their plan for the State Water Project will enhance protections for fish species, environmental groups and some experts remain skeptical. The proposed rules have been under scrutiny for potentially accelerating the decline of fish populations and failing to address the ecological impacts of water operations.
The debate over water management in the Delta has long been a contentious issue, with agricultural interests, environmental advocates, and water agencies holding conflicting views on the best approach. The California Farm Bureau and urban water agencies have raised concerns about the proposed rules, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that considers both water supply needs and environmental conservation.
As the state and federal governments work towards finalizing the new rules, legal challenges are expected from various stakeholders. The outcome of these deliberations will have far-reaching implications for the future of water management in California and the protection of endangered fish species in the region.