CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS
California Department of Water Resources Study Prepared by NASA Shows Central Valley Land Dropping at a Pace Faster Due to Groundwater Pump-ing3
Los Angeles Department of Water and Power Dumps 20,000 ‘Shade Balls’ into Reservoir to Reduce Evaporation—Action Becomes Internet Sensa-
tion4
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
California Department of Water Resources Lists Critically Drafted Groundwater Basins under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act6
Department of Water Resources Releases Draft Guidelines for Proposition 1 Sustainable Groundwater Planning Grant Program for Stressed
Basins8
California State Water Resources Control Board Approves General Waste Discharge Requirements for Composting Operations11
LAWSUITS FILED OR PENDING
U.S. District Court Denies Request to Enjoin Release of Central Valley Project Water to the Klamath River13
Superior Court Rejects Environmental Challenge to San Diego County Water Authority’s Regional Water Facilities Optimization and Master Plan Update and Climate Action Plan15
Monsanto Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuit Alleging it Contaminated San Diego Bay with PCBs17
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Circuit Court of Appeals:
Ninth Circuit Finds Notice of Intent to Sue the Forest Service Alleging Violations of the ESA Sufficient in the Face of a Motion to Dismiss19
Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center v. Rob MacWhorter, the U.S. Forest Service, ___F.3d___, Case No. 13-35453 (9th Cir. Aug. 10, 2015).
Ninth Circuit Holds No Permit Needed under the Clean Water Act for Irrigation Project Covering Parts of California and Oregon21
ONRC Action v. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, ___F.3d___, Case No. 12-35831 (9th Cir. Aug. 21, 2015).
District Court:
District Court Finds Scrap Metal Facility Discharged Via Storm Water Runoff Pollutants into a Drinking Water Source in Violation of Water Quality Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 California Sportfishing Protection Alliance v. Chico Scrap Metal, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 2:10-CV-01207-GEB-AC (E.D. Cal. Aug. 17, 2015).
District Court Blocks Implementation of EPA/Corps Promulgated CWA Clean Water Rule24
North Dakota v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, ___F.Supp.3d___, Case No. 3:15-cv-59 (D. N.D. Aug. 27, 2015).
RECENT STATE DECISIONS
District Court of Appeal:
Sixth District Court Reverses Refund of Water Service Charges28
Great Oaks Water Company v. Santa Clara Valley Water District, ___Cal.Ap.4th___, Case No. H035260 (6th Dist. Aug. 12, 2015).
Superior Court:
Superior Court Orders State and Central Regional Water Quality Control Boards to Create New Rules to Protect against Agricultural Pollution30
Monterey Coastkeeper v. State Water Resources Control Board, Case No. 34-2012-80001324 (Sacramento Super. Ct. Aug. 10, 2015).
