California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Protection for Delta Smelt Is Criticized

Federal protection of the tiny Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta smelt could halt water shipments to Southern California, create chronic water shortages and cost the state economy $12 billion, a coalition of water agencies said. The agencies made their claim a day before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is scheduled to begin hearings on whether to list the delta smelt as a threatened species. Federal biologists say the three- to five-inch fish is declining in population because of lost habitat, water pumping, the drought, intrusion of non-native species and poor water quality. However, the water agencies contend that the fish population is rebounding despite six years of drought, and shouldn’t be listed as threatened.