From News Line, a daily compilation of farm water news distributed to CFWC members and others upon request. To receive News Line, click here.
Let’s try a delta smelt hatchery
Coalition response…The frustration expressed by the letter-writer is shared by many, including farmers who are unable to plant their fields because of restricted water supplies and city residents who have seen their water bills go up. But the Delta smelt, which has caused much of these effects on Californians, is listed under the Endangered Species Act. That means the law says it must be protected.
The Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) and its two tunnels are the best hope to provide farmers and the urban community with a reliable water supply and, at the same time, increase habitat for the smelt and other species in the Delta.