The delta smelt An architect who designs and builds green cities is questioning the wisdom of restricting fresh water in Northern California from being pumped to Southern California.

“I don’t think they’ve figured this out fully. They aren’t really looking at what it means environmentally to everything else,” said Thousand Oaks architect Gary Heathcote.

As the rainfall and snowpack in Northern California filled reservoirs over past months, regulations to protect delta smelt and salmon kept the water from coming to Southern California due to what is being called a “regulatory drought.”

That means there’s enough water up north and pipelines to bring it down, but man-made restrictions aren’t allowing water to flow here.

The results: Thousands of fallow acres in Central California and conservation restrictions, higher water costs and the threat of fines in Southern California.

As the fresh delta water flows out to the ocean instead, dry farmland is making a dust bowl of what was once rich land, causing a “heat island effect,” Heathcote said.

“The heat island effect—no vegetation, too much pavement— raises ambient temperatures, contributing to global warming.”

Once the ground loses its topsoil, it may be difficult to grow plants again. America had the same kind of problem in the 1930s, he said.

Plants need good soil. More vegetation means more oxygen, as plants replace carbon dioxide with oxygen.

The water used on farmland would also nurture wildlife.

“Anyone who has lived next to farming operations knows that other animals actually feed and get water from farmland areas,” Heathcote said. “There are thousands of species that benefit from the water distribution. Birds also benefit from the farmlands.”

He called what’s being done to protect the delta smelt “pseudoscience.”

“One species of fish does not equate to the dispersion of water to thousands of acres of farmland becoming fallow.

“We’re facing a multitude of issues in California. Drought and false environmental issues can do great damage environmentally and economically,” Heathcote said.

An environmental planner, Heathcote has a passion for protecting the environment through design.

“I’m sure there are several ways to redesign and engineer a way to protect the salmon.”

Heathcote also noted that bees depend on the plants and trees. The population of bees is currently being threatened by chemicals and other factors. Less farmland doesn’t help that situation.

Water used on farmland is dispersed over large areas and contributes to the replenishment of the groundwater supply system. This allows the water to be recaptured and used again and again, Heathcote said.

He suggested those concerned about the environment contact lawmakers and demand they start to look not just at one aspect of protection for one species but at the big picture.

“We need to challenge our government, challenge court documents. I’m very concerned about our environment,” he said.

Eric Bergh, Calleguas Water District manager, said the matter is complex.

“The delta issue is a quagmire. It’s a tug of war. (Federal district) Judge Oliver Wanger is making decisions creating a regulatory drought. We need a logical, rational decision with more clarity.”

In 2008 the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife said two pumping stations were killing delta smelt. That biological opinion resulted in flow restrictions, said Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Steve Martarano.

In 2009, an opinion by another wildlife agency said the pumps were also killing salmon.

However, despite the restrictions, the smelt aren’t doing very well.

“Smelt are at their lowest recorded levels ever,” Martarano said.

He acknowledged there are other stressors affecting the fish, including contaminants in the water.

“There are a lot of unknowns. A lot of people are scratching their heads. . . . Studies (are) being done to determine why the species is declining because the smelt are an indicative species,” Martarano said.

The health of the 2-inch minnow could indicate problems in the water that could eventually affect other wildlife populations.

All agree that the situation is challenging.

“It’s an incredibly complicated issue,” Martarano said.

“There are so many moving parts to this issue,” Bergh said.

“I don’t think the bigger picture of this has been drawn correctly yet,” Heathcote said.