Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R–Richvale) is leading several other California Republicans in pushing for the designation of the longfin smelt as endangered to be repealed.
Representatives Vince Fong (R–Bakersfield), Tom McClintock (R–Elk Grove) and David Valadao (R–Hanford) are among the co-sponsors of the Congressional Review Act resolution, which LaMalfa introduced last week.
The backstory: Former President Joe Biden’s administration listed the longfin smelt as endangered under the Endangered Species Act last year.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said at the time that the main cause of the declining population for the longfin smelt is habitat loss, which is primarily due to the reductions and alterations in freshwater flow into the San Francisco Bay estuary.
Why it matters: The California Water Alliance reported that the endangered listing immediately led to reduced pumping at the Jones Pumping Plant, which is located near Tracy and lifts water at the southern end of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta into the Delta-Mendota Canal.
- Per the California Water Alliance, pumping was reduced by 1,500 cubic feet per second from Jan. 19 to Jan. 26, which resulted in a loss of 21,000 acre feet of water – which totals nearly seven billion gallons.
The big picture: The resolution – formally known as H.J. Res. 78 – would repeal the endangered listing for the longfin smelt, which would keep the federal government from reducing pumping because of the fish.
- Congress is allowed to repeal the listing under the Congressional Review Act, and the resolution will not need the usual 60-vote requirement in the Senate to pass.
- It has been referred to the House Natural Resources Committee for consideration.
What they’re saying: “This listing is just another example of out-of-touch environmental policies making it harder to store and deliver water in California. We are already dealing with a maze of arcane and oftentimes conflicting environmental regulations that make it nearly impossible to manage our water supply effectively for Californians up and down the state,” LaMalfa said.
- He added, “This is in addition to permanent, mandatory water rationing imposed on households by California regulators. This listing adds another layer of bureaucracy, sending up to 200,000 acre-feet of water to the ocean each year, likely from Shasta Lake or Lake Oroville, instead of storing it for future use or making it available to Californians. This resolution repeals this unnecessary listing and ensures we can focus on solutions that support our farmers, strengthen our economy, and secure a reliable water supply for our future.”
- Fong called the resolution an important step forward in rolling back misguided water restrictions that have burdened California’s water supplies.
- “Working with Congressman Doug LaMalfa, we are advancing legislation that prioritizes commonsense water solutions for our state,” Fong said. “Instead of wasting vital resources to protect a fish that never belonged on the endangered species list, this resolution will restore essential water allocations to support our region. This is a win for our communities to ensure we have reliable and stable water supplies for our homes, businesses, and farms.”
- Valadao added, “The Biden Administration’s unnecessary decision to list the longfin smelt as an endangered species is yet another example of an environmental policy not grounded in science that puts fish over people. Our farmers are already struggling with all the burdensome regulations that restrict water deliveries and threaten the future of agriculture in the Central Valley, and this rule would ensure even more of our water is sent out to sea. I’m proud to join Congressman LaMalfa in fighting back against this misguided rule and standing up for our farmers, families, and rural communities.”
