The drought’s effect on California’s native fish

On the edge

The drought has compounded the harm of dams and water diversions by further reducing river flows and increasing water temperatures, driving long declining populations of California’s native fish to dangerously low levels.

Delta smelt (abundance index)

Longfin smelt (abundance index)

Chinook salmon (returning winter-run adults)

On the edge

The drought has compounded the harm of dams and water diversions by further reducing river flows and increasing water temperatures, driving long declining populations of California’s native fish to dangerously low levels.

Delta smelt (abundance index)

Longfin smelt (abundance index)

Chinook salmon (returning winter-run adults)

Delta smelt

So few delta smelt were found in June’s Townet Survey that the abundance index hit zero.

Longfin smelt

Chinook salmon

Delta smelt

So few delta smelt were found in the annual Summer Townet Survey this June that the abundance index hit zero, the lowest on record.

Longfin smelt

Chinook salmon

Delta smelt

So few delta smelt were found in the annual Summer Townet Survey this June that the abundance index hit zero, the lowest since the survey began in 1959. Experts fear that if this winter is dry, the fish could be extinct with a year.