at the moment the endangered species act, which is federal law, trumps anything he can do anyway. president obama suddenly discovered that he's a federalist on this question. it doesn't really make much sense, given that this is an issue of federal law. >> can congress do anything to help people in central california? >> sure. congress could, for example, exempt the delta smelt from the endangered species act or a gob squad, executive branch of executive people who can determine that human interests in this case are more important than that of the fish. >> is this an either/or question? if the people of the central valley -- if all these people are enduring terrible suffering in central california, if they are given more water, more water is sent their way, not diverted away from them, does that mean the extinction of this delta smelt? >> i don't think anyone is sure.