The Delta Smelt: Politics and Preservation

This chapter examines the plight of the Delta smelt, a fish emblematic of the environmental challenges in California's Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. It discusses the tension between agricultural water needs and environmental protections, highlighting how misinformation and cultural narratives have shaped public perception and policy. Through legal battles and regulatory measures, the chapter explores the fish's role as a symbol in the state’s water management debates and the implications of its declining status.