CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS
Tribes Sign Agreement to Share 50,000 Acre-Feet from Trinity
Reservoir167
Governor Newsom Expands Suspension of CEQA and Coastal Act to Cover Undergrounding, Upgrading, and Relocation of LA-Fire-Damaged Electric and Telecommunication Infrastructure169
LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
California Senate Bill 601 Passes through Committee—Potential Nexus Standard for California’s Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act171
Proposed State Bill Would Require Courts to Defer to Groundwater
Sustainability Plan Sustainable Yield Determinations in Adjudication Proceedings173
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
US Environmental Protection Agency Outlines Agency Plans to Address
PFAS175
US Bureau of Reclamation Announces Increases in Central Valley Project Water Allocations and DWR Increases Water Allocation for State Water Project Contractors177
LAWSUITS FILED OR PENDING
A New Challenge Emerging under SGMA: The Transparency Requirements of Records178
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Federal Circuit:
Federal Circuit Finds NMFS’ Requirement for
Increased Water to Bypass Dam Diversion to Protect Species Didn’t Constitute a “Ripe” Taking180
United Water Conservation District v. United States, ___F.4th___, Case No. 2023-1602 (Fed. Cir. Apr. 2, 2025).
RECENT STATE DECISIONS
Court of Appeal:
Fifth District Court Reverses Tral Court Injunction Modifying Kern River Operations182
Bring Back the Kern v. City of Bakersfield, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case No. F087487 (5th Dist. Apr. 2, 2025).
Sixth District Court Upholds Santa Clara Groundwater Charges Under Proposition 26184
Great Oaks Water Company v. Santa Clara Valley Water District, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case No. H050939 (6th Dist. Feb. 28, 2025, published Mar. 28, 2025).