Harming endangered species is about to become federal policy. President Trump has long singled out endangered species protections for the Delta smelt – which he has called “an essentially worthless fish” – as the reason for water shortages on California[A1] , ignoring the facts of how little water is actually allocated for environmental purposes and how many different river and estuary species (including salmon, steelhead, and sturgeon) are also protected by environmental water requirements…

The California State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board or Board) recently released its Draft Staff Report for the Phase II Update of the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan (Bay-Delta Plan or Plan). This report, and the process to update the Bay-Delta Plan, will have critical implications for the health of California rivers and ecosystems. Unfortunately, the Staff Report outlines several options that will fail to protect the Delta and its tributary rivers…

The Karuk Tribe of California and other groups filed a petition to set minimum flows on the Scott River, which has completely ceased to flow at certain locations during the summer months due to excessive withdrawals by local agricultural users. This request was vehemently opposed by the same water users who have drained the Scott and resist governmental efforts toward a balanced ecosystem…