Ruling deals a blow to smelt supporters A federal judge Wednesday rejected a request by environmentalists that could have slowed the flow of water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to agricultural interests to the south. The 92-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Oliver W. Wanger is the latest in a case involving the tiny delta smelt, which environmentalists say is facing extinction largely because of reduced water coming into the delta and from increased pumping. The environmentalists wanted Wanger to cancel long-term contracts for more than a dozen west side water districts that get water from the delta. But Wanger's ruling said that it would be pointless to renegotiate the contracts to help the smelt, because the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has the ability to stop water deliveries to the districts to satisfy requirements of the Endangered Species Act. It also likely sets a legal precedent for nearby water districts with similar contracts that the environmentalists didn't challenge....