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Saving Endangered Species
We are working to ensure healthy habitats for our salmon and steelhead populations.
The delta smelt is a small plantivorous fish found only in the Sacramento-SanJoaquin Delta and upper San Francisco Bay.
Like their cousin, the delta smelt, longfin smelt used to be one of the most common fishes in San Francisco Bay.
The Bay Institute has been a leader in the effort to win and implement protections for native Delta and Central Valley aquatic species at risk from water projects, land conversion, toxic discharges, exotic organisms and other threats.
Over the years, the Rivers & Delta program has worked to force the federal and state governments to list delta smelt, Chinook salmon, longfin and splittail under the Endangered Species Acts. Our experts have identified the many steps necessary to prevent these species from becoming extinct and to begin the road to recovery of their populations and restoration of their habitats back to sustainable levels.
Our staff also monitors the impacts of water project operations on endangered species, reports on emerging problems to the public, and advocates for necessary operational or other management changes to avoid harming at-risk populations.
Over the years, the Rivers & Delta program has worked to force the federal and state governments to list delta smelt, Chinook salmon, longfin and splittail under the Endangered Species Acts. Our experts have identified the many steps necessary to prevent these species from becoming extinct and to begin the road to recovery of their populations and restoration of their habitats back to sustainable levels.
Our staff also monitors the impacts of water project operations on endangered species, reports on emerging problems to the public, and advocates for necessary operational or other management changes to avoid harming at-risk populations.
