Friday December 9, 2022
For the sixth November in a row, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife has caught zero Delta smelt during its Fall Midwater Trawl Survey of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.
The Delta smelt, an indicator species for the broader ecological health of the estuary, is found only in the Delta. The smelt typically reach a length of 2 to 3 inches and have a steely blue sheen on their sides, giving the fish an almost translucent look.
The last time Delta smelt were found in CDFW’s November survey was in 2016. Only 8 of these fish were caught by state biologists at the time.
2017 was the last year when any Delta smelt were discovered in the entire four month survey, when 2 smelt were reported in October.