Since President Donald Trump took office for a second term, his administration has rolled back numerous environmental protections. The latest target is the Endangered Species Act, one of the nation’s bedrock conservation laws. Earlier this month, the U.S. Department of the Interior issued a new interpretation of what would constitute harming an endangered species that sharply loosens the act’s protections related to the degradation of protected wildlife’s habitat. … Endangered and threatened fish species have carried particular weight in dictating how state and federal agencies regulate the flow of water into and out of the Delta. Agencies today balance irrigation and development needs with the water quality and temperature needed by endangered and threatened fish, ranging from winter run Chinook salmon and Central Valley steelhead trout to diminutive delta and longfin smelt.

Other fishery and fish protection news:

• KRCR (Redding, Calif.): California to close, modify north coast ocean salmon seasons after catch estimates update
• Fishing the North Coast with Kenny Priest: Blog: Ocean salmon season ends, but the north coast bite rolls on
• California Trout: Blog: Restoring fish passage through partnership on Sulphur Creek