According to reports, drought in California appears to be taking a toll on a fish species, which is threatened. Earlier this month, California officials surveyed 40 sites in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The Record of Stockton reported that the state officials found one delta smelt during the survey.

The survey, which was conducted by the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, turns up dozens of smelt. The survey was conducted over four days. The numbers of the endangered slender-bodied smelt, which has been in decline, were considered a measure of conditions in delta. As per the experts, the results of this year were sad, but they had expected such results.

According to the reports, the ongoing drought in the state is responsible for less water in the delta. The ongoing drought has created saltier conditions. The finger-long fish usually prefer fresh water to breed. To find fresh water, the fish tend to move further east into the regions where there are predators to kill them. They also become victim of water pumps or become exposed to pollution, as per The Record of Stockton.

While talking to The Record, Peter Moyle, an expert on California's native fish, said, "The main hope now for the smelt is that some of these remaining fish spawned successfully and the young will survive for a year despite unfavorable conditions".

The smelt has also been the subject of a number of court cases over water distribution from the delta. According to officials and water contractors, the decline of smelt and salmon could be reversed through a proposed $25 billion twin-tunnel water project. The officials said that by taking water in the north of the delta, the population of smelt and salmon can be reversed.