California Water Law & Policy Reporter

CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS

Upper Division States on the Colorado River Refine March 2024 Alternative for Post-2026 River Operations to Include Conservation Measures119

California Expands Efforts to Capture Excess Flood Flows for Groundwater Recharge Via Governor Newsom’s Executive Order N-16-25120

Executive Orders by Governor Newsom Expedite Rebuilding Efforts

Following California Wildfires by Relaxing CEQA and Coastal Act

Requirements122

123

REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS

EPA Releases Draft Risk Assessment Associated with PFAS Chemicals in Biosolids125

United States Army Corps of Engineers Makes Unplanned Releases from Two Tulare Lake Basin Dams127

California State Water Resources Control Board Proposed Regulations to Address Groundwater Contamination Caused by Dairy Waste128

State Water Board Updates Technical Guidance for Water Code Section 1242.1 Regarding Groundwater Recharge to Include Executive

Order N-16-25 Modifications130

RECENT CALIFORNIA DECISIONS

District Court of Appeal:

Fifth District Court Upholds Water District’s EIR Pursuant to CEQA for Proposed Reservoir Along the Delta-Mendota Canal132

Friant Water Supply Protection Association v. Del Puerto Water District, Unpub., Case No. F085535 (5th Dist. Jan 30, 2025).

Reaffirming Taxpayer Protections: Fourth District Court finds Water District’s Rate Structure Ran Afoul of the California Constitution135

Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association v. Coachella Valley Water District, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case No. E080870 (4th Dist. Jan. 31, 2025).

Second District Court Affirms Granting 473(B) Relief in CEQA Challenge Because Respondents Timely Filed Motion and Did Not Make Unreasonable Mistake of Law137

Parents Against Santa Susana Field Lab et al. v. California Department of Toxic Substances Control et al., Unpub., Case No. 2D CIV. B337733 (2nd Dist. Dec. 16, 2024).

Superior Court:

Regional Water Quality Control Board Secures

Superior Court Ruling Against Boeing139

The Boeing Company vs. Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region, et al., Case No. 23STCP04550 (LA County Super. Ct. Dec. 30, 2024).