Southern California’s Imperial Irrigation District, which supplies water to farmers who grow most of the nation’s winter vegetables, planned to start a conservation program in April to scale back what it draws from the critical Colorado River. But a tiny, tough fish got in the way. Now, those plans won’t start until at least June so water and wildlife officials can devise a way to ensure the endangered desert pupfish and other species are protected, said Jamie Asbury, the irrigation district’s general manager. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering feed crops such as alfalfa this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish that measures the length of an ATM card. “Drains are created for farmers to be able to convey irrigation runoff, and the pupfish decided it was a good place to live,” Asbury said. |
BORIS JOHNSON: Our desperate fight to save Donny the dying ducklingMichigan Supreme Court rules against couple in dispute over privacy and drone photos of landCampaigners back first memorial to UK journalists killed while working in conflict zoneFormer security guard Jake Knapp leads the Byron Nelson after 2 roundsSettlement could cost NCAA nearly $3 billion; plan to pay athletes would need federal protectionMoscow accuses Lord Cameron of 'threatening European security' over remarks giving Kyiv goThe most dysfunctional state in America? Soaring unemployment, skySettlement could cost NCAA nearly $3 billion; plan to pay athletes would need federal protectionAltuve drives in goIsraeli PM vows ground attack on Rafah with or without deal