Local agencies that buy and distribute State Water Project water have sued to delay a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decision on whether the delta smelt should be protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. The suit filed in U.S. District Court in Sacramento seeks to force Fish and Wildlife to turn over internal documents on which it based its yet-to-be announced recommendation. If a judge grants the request, the recommendation to be announced by Saturday would be postponed. State Water Project contractors contend that if the tiny fish is declared an endangered or threatened species, pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta may be limited, and water shipments to Southern California and other parts of the state could be reduced.