Lenny Grimaldo, environmental director for the State Water Project, said in an interview with The Times that officials have kept pumping to levels they deemed were “protective of minimizing additional losses of fish but also protective of water supply.”

In an email, Grimaldo said that before the take limit for steelhead was reached on March 20, pumping at the State Water Project was reduced to protect the fish, and pumping remained at those low levels — around 1,200 cubic feet per second — through March 26 “to minimize further loss.”

Then, based on new information indicating that a higher level of pumping would “not draw any additional steelhead into the zone of the pumps,” Grimaldo said, the state consulted with federal officials and decided to “slightly increase exports” to 2,200 cubic feet per second on March 26.

The state and federal facilities were drawing in 2,400 cubic feet per second through Thursday, operating at a little over 20% of their combined capacity, Grimaldo said. After runoff from the latest storms boosted river flows, state officials on Friday said they were increasing water exports to 3,900 cubic feet per second, or 35% of full capacity, over the following five days.

Grimaldo said the Department of Water Resources “is continuing to comply with endangered species regulations, including ongoing consultation” with other state and federal agencies. The state agency is also investing in “rapid genetic technology” to better distinguish endangered winter-run salmon from other types, Grimaldo said, and to comply with requirements under law.

State officials said the agencies have formed a scientific review panel to study ways of improving operations.

“I’m concerned about this situation because I feel like these species are getting the short end of the stick,” said Ashley Overhouse, water policy adviser for Defenders of Wildlife.

She said that after one of the wettest winters on record, in 2023, and an above-average winter this year, it’s an optimal time for helping fish populations begin to recover from years of drought.

Other species that are at risk include threatened green sturgeon and endangered delta smelt. The population of threatened spring-run Chinook salmon has also suffered declines, and last year the fishing season for fall-run Chinook was canceled because of low population estimates.

“We have an estuary that’s the heart of our water management system and on the brink of collapse,” Overhouse said. “We are at a critical turning point, and any additional attention, coordination and, frankly, collective efforts and action that we can take to make sure that this doesn’t happen again is paramount.”

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