San Francisco BaykeeperJan 15, 2025

The Feds have a new proposal for Longfin Smelt habitat, but the plan doesn't go far enough, as our science director @jarosenfield explains: "Critical habitat is supposed to include habitats where the fish doesn't live but that the fish depends upon... Smelt require abundant flow of fresh water from the Central Valley rivers through the Delta to San Francisco Bay. That's the one thing they respond to." https://www.eenews.net/articles/feds-propose-critical-habitat-for-another-california-smelt/

#cawater #californiafish #longfinsmelt #endangeredspecies #fish

Feds propose critical habitat for another California smelt

At issue is the longfin smelt, whose better-known relative, the delta smelt, has long been at the heart of high-profile habitat battles.

E&E News by POLITICO
San Francisco BaykeeperOct 18, 2024

Officials have decided to curtail additional water flows for endangered fish in the #Delta this fall--a recipe for #extinction of the formerly abundant Delta smelt.

As Baykeeper science director @jarosenfield & Friends of the River's Gary Bobker wrote:

"California habitually fails to enforce environmental laws designed to protect our aquatic ecosystems. Following the state’s lead, federal agencies skimp on environmental safeguards and waive the meager protections they do offer any time protecting the public’s fish, wildlife, waterways, and water quality, gets in the way of diverting more water to meet California’s seemingly unquenchable demand." https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-10-02/california-water-flow-requirement-debate

#cawater #extinctionisforever #deltasmelt #fish #fishes #californiafish #endangeredspecies #wildlife @ianjames @RestoreTheDelta

Debate erupts over California's decision to reduce delta water flows

California water managers decided to curtail extra water flows intended to support endangered delta smelt. The change has sparked debate over protections for fish.

Los Angeles Times
San Francisco BaykeeperMay 7, 2024
White sturgeon are "designed to survive, and yet we're at risk of losing them because of the various ways that we're impacting the bay," as Baykeeper science director @jarosenfield explains, "I've compared them to the redwoods of the bay—the redwoods of the estuary—because they're gigantic, they live a long time and they see a lot in their lifetimes." https://sfstandard.com/2024/05/03/california-white-sturgeon-protection/ #sturgeon #whitesturgeon #fish #californiafish #endangeredspecies #endangeredspeciesact
A fisherman pulled a mammoth sturgeon out of the bay

Capt. Zack Medinas caught the fish of a lifetime in Suisun Bay. Government protections may soon ensure future anglers can do the same.

The San Francisco Standard
San Francisco BaykeeperMar 22, 2024
"In the abstract, this ruling should mean full steam ahead for the water board updating its water quality standards," said Baykeeper science director @jarosenfield, of the new ruling. "In the real world, we have a governor actively resisting new standards because he favors a voluntary approach negotiated with water users in a back room, and is forcing the water board to consider if not adopt it."
https://www.aol.com/court-upholds-california-rules-protect-120000873.html #cawater #californiawater #californiarivers #fish #fish #californiafish #baydelta #baydeltaplan #worldwaterday
Court upholds California rules to protect fish, but Newsom wants a lenient Delta approach

A judge gave state water regulators his blessing to enforce environmental protections. They probably won’t use it

AOL
San Francisco BaykeeperOct 12, 2023

We've officially put the US Fish & Wildlife Service on notice of our intent to sue for violating the #EndangeredSpeciesAct.

The agency proposed listing the SF Bay-Delta population of longfin smelt as an endangered species, but has failed to meet its deadline.

“The Fish and Wildlife Service needs to do its job and stick to the legal deadlines,” said Baykeeper's managing attorney, Eric Buescher. “As the Bay’s lawyers, Baykeeper is going to hold them accountable.”

Learn more on our website: https://baykeeper.org/press_release/baykeeper-puts-federal-agency-notice-will-sue-uphold-endangered-species-act

#endangeredspecies #longfinsmelt #fish #fishes #californiawildlife #californiafish #esa

Baykeeper Puts Federal Agency on Notice: Will Sue to Uphold Endangered Species Act

Fish and Wildlife Missed Congressional Deadline to Protect Longfin Smelt Oakland, California—San Francisco Baykeeper today put the US Fish and Wildlife Service on notice that the environmental advocacy organization intends to sue the agency for violating the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The agency proposed listing the SF Bay-Delta population of longfin smelt as an endangered species in 2022, but it has failed to meet a deadline established by Congress in the ESA to make a final listing determination or to designate what counts as critical habitat for the imperiled fish.

San Francisco Baykeeper