Please take action NOW!
 
ENVIRONMENTAL CRISIS IN THE DELTA
 
DELTA SMELT ARE on the BRINK of EXTINCTION
Results from a just completed survey by the Department of Fish & Game:
 
--Scientists failed to find any smelt in 30 of 36 stations in the Delta
--The survey found only 25 smelt overall; a 93% drop from 2006
--This is the worst return in the history of this survey, in fact these numbers are ONE   TENTH of previous record lows
 
NO RESPONSE TO SAVE THESE FISH
--Even though SEVERAL Delta species have been collapsing for SIX YEARS, the State has refused to commit to actions to avoid extinction
--Last year the State and Federal water projects exported near RECORD amounts of water through massive pumps in the Delta Smelt?s habitat
--The State pumped 55 BILLION gallons of ?EXTRA? water in January even while they were telling the Judge there was no problem with smelt
 
MORE DELTA FISH ARE HEADED TOWARD EXTINCTION
Severe declines in multiple fish populations show that the Delta ecosystem is collapsing. Since 2005 the State and Federal governments have known about the problem, but have failed to commit to actions to save the Delta. 
 
WHAT MUST BE DONE TO SAVE THE DELTA SMELT?
 
Scientists' recommendations to help the Delta Smelt must be immediately implemented (see attachment below).
 
Call the Governor and tell him to commit to actions to save the Delta Smelt before its too late!
 
Office of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Phone: 916-445-2841
http://www.govmail.ca.gov
 
 
More information:
Tom Philp of the Sacramento Bee's Blog provides a link to the Delta Smelt Working Group's recommendations to respond to the delta smelt crisis:
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/water/archives/DSWG_Briefing_Statement_15May07.pdf
 
Hank Shaw's blog on this issue:
http://blogs.recordnet.com/n/blogs/blog.aspx?en=&redirCnt=2&nav=main&webtag=sr-hshaw
 
During May 2007, pumps have taken more smelt (84) than the Delta survey (8):
http://www.usbr.gov/mp/cvo/vungvari/dsmeltsplitdly.pdf
 
Department of Fish and Game
20 mm survey: http://www.delta.dfg.ca.gov/data/20mm/CPUE_map.asp
 
Notes from Delta Action Team (State and Federal Agencies)
http://wwwoco.water.ca.gov/calfedops/dat/2007/05_08_2007.pdf