Skip to content
CapRadio

CapRadio

listen live donate
listen live donate
listen live
donate
  • News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
    News
    • News

    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
    Music
    • Music

    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic

    • Daily Playlist
  • Podcasts & Shows
  • Schedules
  • Events
  • Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
    Support
    • Support
    • Ways to support
    • Evergreen Donation
    • One-Time Donation
    • Corporate Sponsorship
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Giving
    • Legacy Giving
    • Endowment Support
    • Members
    • Member Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • Member Newsletter

    • Fund drives
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Experiment To Boost Smelt's Food Supply Shows Promising Results

  •  Steve Milne 
Wednesday, August 31, 2016 | Sacramento, CA
Listen
/
download audio
Update RequiredTo play audio, update browser or Flash plugin.
Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio
 

Amy Quinton / Capital Public Radio

An experiment to improve conditions for the endangered Delta smelt appears to be working.

Scientists are trying to boost the smelt's food supply chain by creating a bloom in tiny plants called phytoplankton.

"We need the green stuff in order to grow zooplankton, the small microscopic shrimp that Delta smelt rely on," says Ted Sommer, the California Department of Water Resources' lead scientist on the project.

Sommer says state, federal and local water districts released water through the Yolo Bypass - a wetland and tidal slough corridor of the Sacramento River system - and into the Delta, where it created a ten-fold increase in phytoplankton.

Some Central Valley farmers blame efforts to save the smelt for reducing water supplies. But Sommer says for this experiment, the water was only redirected.

"Water was diverted from the Sacramento River, run through the Yolo Bypass, but then it flows right back into the Sacramento River," says Sommer. "So it's still available downstream."

The project is part of a larger effort to save the endangered smelt, called the Delta Smelt Resiliency Stragegy. Scientists are also studying whether to add sand - used by smelt for spawning - in some Delta areas.


Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

 wildlifedeltasciencesmelt

Steve Milne

Morning Edition Anchor & Reporter

Steve is the Morning Edition anchor for Capital Public Radio. He covers stories on a wide range of topics including: business, education, real estate, agriculture and music.  Read Full Bio 

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Alisha Jucevic for CalMatters

Will the state’s big Medi-Cal plan really fix mental health care for low-income Californians?

February 3, 2023

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

California will try to limit solitary confinement — again

February 7, 2023

Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

After legal trouble, advocates want state lawmakers to ‘reconsider’ Capitol Annex options

February 8, 2023

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Las Vegas airport reports record passenger volume in 2022

Black educators in California say state budget reaffirms Black students don’t matter

Paul’s Place provides ‘path forward’ for unhoused residents in Davis

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

California coronavirus updates: Las Vegas airport reports record passenger volume in 2022

Black educators in California say state budget reaffirms Black students don’t matter

Paul’s Place provides ‘path forward’ for unhoused residents in Davis

10 new California laws that go into effect in 2023

Still testing positive after day 10? How to decide when to end your COVID isolation

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    •  
      (916) 278-8900
    •  
      (877) 480-5900
    •  Contact / Feedback
    •  Submit a News Tip
  • About

    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Stations & Coverage Map
    • Careers & Internships
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Press
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile Apps
    • Smart Speakers
    • Podcasts & Shows
    • On-Air Schedules
    • Daily Playlist
    • Signal Status
  • Connect

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen Live

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2023, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.