U.S. District Judge Oliver W. Wanger today put a two-week hold on a federal government management plan for endangered salmon species, a decision that should result in increased water pumping in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

 

Though the ruling is only in force for a short period, it comes at a time when there is increased water flow into the delta. Water pumped from estuary supplies water to agricultural users in the Westlands Water District as well as urban residents from the East Bay to Southern California.

 

The basis for Wanger’s ruling is the lack of endangered winter-run salmon around the massive delta pumps. If that situation changes, Wanger said the federal government could seek a change in the order.

 

In April 2008, Wanger invalidated a management plan — known as a biological opinion — saying it violated the Endangered Species Act by not adequately protecting winter-run Chinook salmon, spring-run Chinook salmon and the Central Valley steelhead.

 

The National Marine Fisheries Service rewrote the opinion, but in today’s ruling, Wanger found that the agency’s revamped plan did not consider the impact on humans.

 

Last year, Wanger made a similar ruling dealing with endangered delta smelt.

 

With Wanger’s temporary decision, still left to be decided — on both the salmon and smelt — is a more permanent ruling. That argument on the salmon is scheduled before Wanger on Tuesday.