Environmentalists, farmers, cities reach temporary compromise over Calif. water pumping limits

Compromise reached over Calif pumping limits

FRESNO, Calif. — California farmers, environmentalists, water managers and city officials have worked out a compromise over how to manage pumping limits for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta through the end of June.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Wednesday all sides have agreed to stick with current water restrictions on state and federal projects tied to the delta.

Federal scientists have recommended water cutbacks to safeguard the threatened delta smelt and other native species. Farmers argued the limits have caused crop losses and damaged the local environment.

The negotiations came after a federal judge’s ruling in May that water officials had to consider humans along with the fish in limiting water use. He also said federal science didn’t prove that increased pumping alone imperiled the smelt.