Witness urges committee to advance H.J. Res. 78 to rescind longfin smelt listing, citing California water impacts

Testifier (name not specified), a witness before the House Committee on Natural Resources, told Chairman Fotz the committee should report H.J. Res. 78 so the House can consider undoing the endangered-species listing for the San Francisco Bay–Delta population of the longfin smelt.

The witness said the resolution would “deliver on President Trump’s promise to turn on the taps in California” and argued that the species’ listing is narrow to the Bay–Delta population and imposes further limits on water deliveries to farmers in California’s Central Valley.

The witness cited national listing statistics in arguing the listing is misplaced: “Since Congress enacted the ESA in 1973, approximately 1,700 species have been listed as threatened or endangered. However, only 3% of listed species have been classified as recovered and delisted,” the witness said. The testimony described the listing as focused on the Bay–Delta population and asserted the species “currently inhabits the entirety of the Bay” and “successfully spawning in all types of water conditions.”

The testimony linked the listing to restrictions on federally allocated water to farms, saying “many farmers are receiving half of their federally allocated water supply” and that the listing “tightens those chains even further.” The witness attributed the listing’s finalization to litigation by environmental groups and said the Republican California delegation, working with Representatives LaMalfa and Malloy, supports the resolution.

The witness urged the committee to report the resolution to the House for consideration but did not describe any formal motion, vote, or committee action taken during the hearing. The transcript contains the witness’ testimony in support of H.J. Res. 78 but records no committee vote or staff direction on the measure.