On June 4 a federal agency directed officials in California to cut down on water supplies to cities and farms in order to save several endangered fish species. These fish, including salmon, trout and sturgeon are in danger of becoming extinct because of the overbuilding of dams and pipelines which are directing water from the waterways into area farmlands. The damage is so severe, some rivers have run dry.
The National Marine Fisheries Service has released a report calling for a 5-7% reduction in water diversions.
A similar situation took place earlier to protect the Delta Smelt in the Sacramento Delta. This Delta is fed by several major rivers. The smelt were helped by approximately 370,000 acre feet of water that was left in the river in order to protect the species. Officials are hoping a similar plan can be put into place for the salmon.
