The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance is suing the city in federal court. Bill Jennings is the group’s executive director. He says Stockton needs to upgrade its sewage system. 

"And it’s just come from very inadequate levels of maintenance. I mean the city has always been miserly in its maintenance, more so in recent years. And because of poor maintenance – excessive numbers of sewage spills." 

Jennings says there have been more than 1,500 sewage spills over the past five years. That’s a violation of the city's state discharge permit. He says some of the Delta’s problems are a result of sewage water discharge. Right now there are court-ordered protections for the threatened smelt. 

Stockton city officials declined comment until they can review the case.