LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
AB 2218, A Bill to Promote Tribal Consultation and Address Inequities
in Access to Water, Moves to the Governor’s Desk for Signature3
Governor Signs Suite of Bills on Data Centers and Water Use4
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
AHO Issues Revised Draft Decision for Sites Reservoir: Conditional
Approval Tied to the 2026 Bay-Delta Plan6
Westlands and Reclamation Threaten to Exit Healthy Rivers and Landscapes Program over SWRCB’s Final Draft Bay-Delta Plan9
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Circuit Court of Appeals:
The Ninth Circuit Affirms Exemption of Central Valley Project Contract Conversion from Contract-Specific Environmental Reviews11
Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, ___ F.4th ___, Case No. 25-5137 (9th Cir. Aug. 17, 2026).
Ninth Circuit Orders New Trial After Sackett Reopens Clean Water Act Coverage of Temescal Creek13
Inland Empire Waterkeeper v. Corona Clay Co., ___ F.4th ___, Case Nos. 24-6090, 24-6199 (9th Cir. Aug. 5, 2026), amended (Sept. 3, 2026).
RECENT CALIFORNIA DECISIONS
District Court of Appeal:
California Court of Appeal Defers SGMA Sutainability Challenges to DWR Review15
AquAlliance et al. v. Vina Groundwater Sustainability Agency et al., ___ Cal.App.5th ___, Case No. C102382 (3rd Dist. July 30, 2026).
Fourth District Court Requires Deeper CEQA Review of Water Supply and Sea Air Impacts for Imperial County Lithium Project17
Comite Civico del Valle v. County of Imperial, ___ Cal.App.5th ___, Case No. D085747 (4th Dist. Aug. 11, 2026).
Third District Court Limits Scope of Regulator Fees under SGMA to Owners and Operators
of Groundwater Wells19
Garst v. Tehama County Flood Control and Water Conservation District, 121 Cal.App.5th 507 (3rd Dist. 2026).
First District Court Finds County Invoking Public Trust Doctrine for Well Permitting Ordinance
Amendments Failed to Analyze the Ordinance
under CEQA20
Russian Riverkeeper v. County of Sonoma, 122 Cal.App.5th 382 (1st Dist. 2026).
Superior Court:
Final Phase Concludes in Thirteen-Year Battle
over Groundwater Pumping Rights in Paso
Robles22
Steinbeck Vineyards #1, LLC, et al. v. County of San Luis Obispo, et al., Case No. 2014-1-CV-265039 (Santa Clara County Super. Ct. Sept. 24, 2026).
