The Santa Ana sucker – a small, algae eating fish that lives in the Santa Ana River

SANTA ANA RIVER

Court Favors A Small Fish

A federal judge last month upheld a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision to double the Southern California area considered critical to the survival of the endangered but tiny algae-eating Santa Ana sucker fish.
The ruling upholds a 2010 decision by the federal wildlife agency that designated 9,331 acres along the fish’s namesake river in San Bernardino and Riverside counties and some Los Angeles County streams as critical habitat.
Environmental groups hailed the ruling.
Water district officials, who have asserted the Inland Empire region stands to be harmed economically and lose billions of dollars in future water supply and transportation projects, are considering whether to appeal.