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Southern California's Imperial Irrigation District supplies water to farmers who grow most of the nation’s winter vegetables.

California's Imperial Irrigation District, which supplies water to farmers who grow most of the nation's winter veggies, planned to start a conservation program, but a tiny fish got in the way.

Imperial Irrigation District had planned a conservation program with Valley farmers in April to meet promised obligations with Colorado River draws, scaling back again from its priority allotment of 3.1

Southern California's Imperial Irrigation District supplies water to farmers who grow most of the nation’s winter vegetables.

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. “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.