Any day now, the state’s water supply from the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta could be cut drastically. This time of year the powerful pumps in the delta should be sending millions of gallons of water to cities and farms to the south and the west. But a recent ruling from a federal judge to protect a tiny threatened fish, the Delta smelt, means water operations in California will be anything but business as usual this year.

An epic version of this story aired this morning on The California Report .

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It airs this afternoon nationally on All Things Considered .  In the meantime, enjoy the photos below, shot during the day I spent with a team from the California Department of Fish and Game searching for the ellusive Delta Smelt.  And as you look at the pictures, think about this, that little fish smells just like a cucumber.