Oliver Wanger

The judge sent waves up and down the state this past year when he ordered dramatic cutbacks in the water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta to protect the tiny delta smelt. Central Valley farmers and about 25 million people throughout the state rely on delta water. In June, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cited Wanger's decision as a reason for declaring an official drought in California. Wanger's order cut water deliveries by roughly 40 percent - and more cuts could come. He recently sided with environmentalists and fishing groups, who argued delta water operations also are jeopardizing endangered salmon.