Southern California's Imperial Irrigation District, which supplies water to farmers who grow most of the nation's winter vegetables, planned to start a conservation program in April to scale back what it draws from the critical Colorado River.
But a tiny, tough fish got in the way.
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Jessica Humes, Environmental Project Manager for the Imperial Irrigation District, looks over a pond refuge for the desert pupfish, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Imperial, Calif. The Imperial Irrigation District created a plan to scale back draws from the Colorado River in a bid to preserve the waterway following years of drought. But a tiny, tough fish got in the way. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering forage crops this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish, she said. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Southern California's Imperial Irrigation District, which supplies water to farmers who grow most of the nation's winter vegetables, planned to start a conservation program in April to scale back what it draws from the critical Colorado River.
The 1,450-mile (2,334-kilometer) river provides water to 40 million people in seven U.S. states, parts of Mexico and more than two dozen Native American tribes. It's long been over-tapped, a problem aggravated by recent years of prolonged drought. The Western states are negotiating a new long-term use plan meant to stabilize the river.
Now the district, the biggest user of Colorado River water with more than 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) of canals and drains, is in talks with state and federal officials on how it can proceed while setting up a monitoring program to ensure the fish isn’t further threatened, Asbury said.
“A lot of them do live in these really bizarre drains, these agricultural drains,” she said. “These fish are incredibly tough — they basically just try to find a space where they can carry on their lives.”
“This is conservation,” Danoff-Burg said. “There are always wicked problems, as they say, all these conflicting things that are working against each other, and you try to muddle through as best you can.”
Jessica Humes, Environmental Project Manager for the Imperial Irrigation District, looks over a pond refuge for the desert pupfish, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Imperial, Calif. The Imperial Irrigation District created a plan to scale back draws from the Colorado River in a bid to preserve the waterway following years of drought. But a tiny, tough fish got in the way. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering forage crops this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish, she said. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Now, those plans won't start until at least June so water and wildlife officials can devise a way to ensure the endangered desert pupfish and other species are protected, said Jamie Asbury, the irrigation district’s general manager. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering feed crops such as alfalfa this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish that measures the length of an ATM card.
“Drains are created for farmers to be able to convey irrigation runoff, and the pupfish decided it was a good place to live,” Asbury said.
Protecting the desert pupfish, listed as endangered since 1986, has been one of many vexing problems facing the Colorado River and the people and species that rely on it.
Vegetation grows along a water-filled irrigation drain leading towards the Salton Sea Friday, March 22, 2024, near Calipatria, Calif. The Imperial Irrigation District created a plan to scale back draws from the Colorado River in a bid to preserve the waterway following years of drought. But a tiny, tough fish got in the way. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering forage crops this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish, she said. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
The 1,450-mile (2,334-kilometer) river provides water to 40 million people in seven U.S. states, parts of Mexico and more than two dozen Native American tribes. It's long been over-tapped, a problem aggravated by recent years of prolonged drought. The Western states are negotiating a new long-term use plan meant to stabilize the river.
Last year, Arizona, Nevada and California offered to cut back on their use of Colorado River water in exchange for money from the federal government to avoid forced cuts. California, which gets the most water of all the states based on a century-old water rights priority system, agreed to give up 1.6 million acre-feet of water through 2026, with more than half coming from the Imperial Irrigation District. An acre-foot serves about two to three U.S. households per year.
The Imperial district envisioned a summer idling program in which farmers could turn off water for 60 days for feed crops since yields already are down at that time of year and growing requires much more water. But environmental officials worried that limiting the flow of water through irrigation drains could harm the desert pupfish. They also raised concerns about the impact on migratory birds that frequent the Salton Sea, Asbury said.
Jessica Humes, Environmental Project Manager for the Imperial Irrigation District, looks into a pond refuge for the desert pupfish, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Imperial, Calif. The Imperial Irrigation District created a plan to scale back draws from the Colorado River in a bid to preserve the waterway following years of drought. But a tiny, tough fish got in the way. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering forage crops this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish, she said. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Now the district, the biggest user of Colorado River water with more than 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) of canals and drains, is in talks with state and federal officials on how it can proceed while setting up a monitoring program to ensure the fish isn’t further threatened, Asbury said.
The curious fish -- the males turn blue during breeding season while females are tan or olive -- was once plentiful. But with the introduction of invasive species in the Colorado River, its numbers dwindled, according to California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. The fish feeds on invertebrates and snails and can handle an extreme range of water temperatures and both fresh and saltwater.
Today, it lives in a few areas in California, Arizona and Mexico, including the Imperial Irrigation District’s drains, which funnel water runoff from farms in California's Imperial Valley into the saline Salton Sea, a drying lake with no outlet that's a stopover point for migratory birds.
Often, the district's drains have more fresh water than the Salton Sea, so the fish seek out those spaces, said Ileene Anderson, senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity. The fish has proven remarkably resilient and can survive in water with low oxygen levels, high salinity and temperatures of more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 degrees Celsius).
Jessica Humes, Environmental Project Manager for the Imperial Irrigation District, looks over a pond refuge for the desert pupfish, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Imperial, Calif. The Imperial Irrigation District created a plan to scale back draws from the Colorado River in a bid to preserve the waterway following years of drought. But a tiny, tough fish got in the way. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering forage crops this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish, she said. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
“A lot of them do live in these really bizarre drains, these agricultural drains,” she said. “These fish are incredibly tough — they basically just try to find a space where they can carry on their lives.”
The desert pupfish is a key part of the ecosystem in the Salton Sea, feeding on biting flies and serving as a food source for birds, said James Danoff-Burg, vice president of conservation at the Palm Desert-based Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, which works on desert conservation. In the summer, creeks that flow into the Salton Sea can dry out so much the fish risk getting stranded, so they are moved to special ponds as an insurance population, he said.
California’s Department of Fish and Wildlife declined to discuss the water conservation plan. The department said in an emailed statement that officials support water use reductions on the Colorado River and will work with other agencies to “find solutions that proactively minimize and mitigate any potential impacts to the great work underway.”
The Bureau of Reclamation, which operates major dams in the Colorado River system, did not immediately comment.
Environmentalists have long said that while many species depend on the Colorado River, decisions about how to use its water typically focus on human needs, not wildlife.
In this 2010 handout image, desert pupfish are seen in a refuge pond in Imperial, Calif. The Imperial Irrigation District created a plan to scale back draws from the Colorado River in a bid to preserve the waterway following years of drought. But a tiny, tough fish got in the way. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering forage crops this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish, she said. (Jessica Humes/Imperial Irrigation District via AP)
“This is conservation,” Danoff-Burg said. “There are always wicked problems, as they say, all these conflicting things that are working against each other, and you try to muddle through as best you can.”
This story’s headline has been updated to correct that it is California’s Colorado River conservation plan, not California River conservation plan.
Vegetation grows along a water-filled irrigation drain leading towards the Salton Sea Friday, March 22, 2024, near Calipatria, Calif. The Imperial Irrigation District created a plan to scale back draws from the Colorado River in a bid to preserve the waterway following years of drought. But a tiny, tough fish got in the way. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering forage crops this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish, she said. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
Jessica Humes, Environmental Project Manager for the Imperial Irrigation District, looks over a pond refuge for the desert pupfish, Friday, March 22, 2024, in Imperial, Calif. The Imperial Irrigation District created a plan to scale back draws from the Colorado River in a bid to preserve the waterway following years of drought. But a tiny, tough fish got in the way. The proposal to pay farmers to temporarily stop watering forage crops this summer has environmentalists concerned that irrigation drains could dry up, threatening the fish, she said. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Residents began sifting through the rubble Saturday after a tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, Nebraska, demolishing homes and businesses as it moved for miles through farmland and into subdivisions, then slamming an Iowa town.
The Friday night tornadoes wreaked havoc in the Midwest, causing a building to collapse with dozens of people inside and destroying and damaging hundreds of homes.
There have been several injuries but no fatalities reported.
By Saturday morning, the sounds of chainsaws filled the air in the Elkhorn neighborhood of Omaha, a city of 485,000 people with a metropolitan area population of about 1 million. Lumber from the damaged homes lay in piles. Fences were knocked over and the trees were skeletal, missing most of their branches.
Power outages peaked at 10,000, but had dropped to 4,300 by morning.
“We could hear it coming through," said Pat Woods, who lives in Elkhorn. "When we came up, our fence was gone and we looked to the northwest and the whole neighborhood’s gone.”
Omaha police Lt. Neal Bonacci said Saturday that the fire department had completed its search of damaged homes and structures. He described the injuries as minor.
The sheriff of the city's Douglas County, Aaron Hanson, begged the community in a message on the social media platform X to not drive to the damaged areas for “mere entertainment.” He said gawkers were causing traffic jams and could slow emergency vehicles.
Meanwhile, Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen posted on X that he had ordered state resources to be made available to help. He and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds planned to tour damaged areas. And Pillen planned a news conference later Saturday in Omaha.
The storm churned up 78 potential tornadoes, mostly in Iowa and Nebraska, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in its latest briefing report.
The National Weather Service had not yet confirmed their strength. But the Omaha office said in a message on X that some of the damage its crews were encountering appeared consistent with EF3 twisters, which pack peak winds of 150 mph (241 kph).
One of the tornadoes hit an industrial building to the west of Omaha, in Nebraska’s Lancaster County, causing it to collapse with 70 people inside. Several were trapped, but everyone was evacuated and the three injuries were not life-threatening, authorities said.
Sheriff’s officials there also said they had reports of a tipped-over train near Waverly, Nebraska.
Another tornado passed over Eppley Airfield on the eastern edge of Omaha, destroying four hanger buildings with 32 privately owned planes inside. No one was hurt and the passenger terminal was not hit. The airport has resumed operations, although access to areas used by noncommercial pilots is limited so crew can clean up the mess, the airfield said in a news release.
After hitting the airport, the storm moved into Iowa, taking aim at the small town of Minden.
Forty to 50 homes were completely destroyed. Two injuries were reported but none were life-threatening, said Jeff Theulen, chief deputy of the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, at a late Friday briefing.
“It’s heartbreaking to see these people who have lost houses, cars, essentially their life until they have to rebuild it,” he said, urging people to stay away because of downed power lines.
At the Minden United Church of Christ, which survived the storm and has become a community hub of help and support, there were plans to take 4-wheel-drive vehicles out to devastated parts of town to bring meals to those who need them, Pastor Eric Biehl said.
“A lot of people are just kind of in shock,” Biehl said. “It’s all overwhelming now.”
Tammy Pavich, who stores equipment on the west edge of town, said she “kind of breathed a sigh of relief” after the first round of tornadoes moved through Omaha. Then, she recalled, the storm “hit Minden dead-on.”
Todd Lehan, a lifelong resident of the town, said he took shelter in a windowless basement.
“It sounded like a vacuum cleaner on top of your house,” he recalled.
The damage was causing headaches for Nebraska football fans headed to the spring game.
“Be prepared for heavy traffic, buckle up and put the phone down,” warned the Nebraska Department of Transportation.
Even as the National Weather Service worked to evaluate the damage, the forecast for Saturday was ominous. It issued tornado watches early Saturday for northwestern Texas and across western Oklahoma. FEMA also said the tornado outbreak could extend into Kansas and Missouri.
“Tornadoes, perhaps significant tornadoes,” were possible Saturday afternoon and evening, said weather service meteorologist Bruce Thoren in Norman, Oklahoma.
Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas and Martin from Atlanta. Associated Press writers Margery A. Beck and Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska; Ken Miller in Oklahoma City; Hannah Fingerhut in Des Moines, Iowa; Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota; and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington; contributed to this report.
Debris surround destroyed and damaged homes in Elkhorn, Neb., on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Residents began sifting through the rubble after a tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, demolishing homes and businesses as it moved for miles through farmland and into subdivisions. (AP Photo/Nicholas Ingram)
People are pick through the rubble of a house that was leveled in Elkhorn, Neb., on Saturday, April 27, 2024. Residents began sifting through the rubble after a tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, demolishing homes and businesses as it moved for miles through farmland and into subdivisions. (AP Photo/Nicholas Ingram)
Families sift through the destruction from a tornado, Friday, April 26, 2024, near Omaha, Neb. (Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Families sift through the damage from a tornado along Arabian Road in Omaha, Neb., Friday, April 26, 2024. (Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Damaged is seen after a tornado leveled homes near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Omaha police officers search a home for a family after a tornado leveled dozens of homes near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Damage is seen to home after it was leveled by a tornado near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Emergency crews respond after a tornado damaged a Garner Industries facility Friday, April 26, 2024, in Lincoln, Neb. (Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Neighbors help clean up Justin and Amanda Putnam's home after a severe storm blew through the area in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Damage is seen to Justin and Amanda Putnam's bedroom after a severe storm damaged their neighborhood in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Jim Huff, 53, breaks down fallen trees after a severe storm hit his neighborhood in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Harold Huff, 83, looks over damage after a severe storm in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Robert Keesee helps his father, Randy Keesee, up a ladder to access roof damage to their home after a severe storm hit the neighborhood in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Linda Kolhof, 66, looks over damage outside her home after a severe storm in Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Firefighters assess the damage to houses after a tornado passed through the area near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Gopala Penmetsa walks past a damaged house after a tornado passed through the area near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. His house was leveled by the tornado. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Damage is seen to a home after a tornado passed through the area near Bennington, Neb., Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)
A piece of wood is embedded in the ground as firefighters assess the damages to houses after a tornado passed through the area near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
A destroyed house is seen northwest of Omaha, Neb., after storms swept through the area on Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Margery A. Beck)
A tornado touches down north of Lincoln, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Kenneth Ferriera/Lincoln Journal Star via AP)
Severe weather damage to Eppley Airfield in Omaha, Neb., can be seen from the Lewis and Clark Monument in Council Bluffs, Iowa, Friday, April 26, 2024. (Anna Reed/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
A tornado moves through suburbs northwest of Omaha on Friday, April 26, 2024, as seen from Bennington, Neb. (Chris Gannon via AP)
A destroyed home is seen northwest of Omaha, Neb., after a storm tore through the area on Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Margery A. Beck)
A tornado touches down on Friday, April 26, 2024, in Lincoln, Neb. (Kenneth Ferriera/Lincoln Journal Star via AP)
Debris is seen from a destroyed home northwest of Omaha, Neb., after a storm tore through the area on Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Margery A. Beck)
A tornado begings touch down near U.S. Route 275 near the Platte river near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Firefighters work to clear a home damaged by a tornado northwest of Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Margery A. Beck)
From left; Ally Mercer, Gabe Sedlacek Kaleb Andersen and Austin Young watch a tornado from a seventh floor parking garage on Friday, April 26, 2024, in Lincoln, Neb. (Kenneth Ferriera/Lincoln Journal Star via AP)
Damage is seen to houses after a tornado passed through the area near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Damaged houses are seen after a tornado passed through the area near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Homeowners assess damage after a tornado caused extensive damage in their neighborhood northwest of Omaha in Bennington, Neb., Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)
Gopala Penmetsa walks past his house after it was leveled by a tornado near Omaha, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Two women help carry a friend's belongings out of their damaged home after a tornado passed through the area in Bennington, Neb., Friday, April 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Josh Funk)
BNSF train cars are seen derailed along U.S. Route 6 after a tornado, Friday, April 26, 2024, between Waverly and Lincoln, Neb. (Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
A tornado is seen near north of Waverly, Neb., on Friday, April 26, 2024. (Chris Machian/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
Terry Kicking sifts through the damage after a tornado leveled his home, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Omaha, Neb. (Nikos Frazier/Omaha World-Herald via AP)
