CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS
California’s Environmental Battle against the Trump Administration Rages on Amidst Clash between the Federal and State Environmental Protection Agencies35
Habitat Restoration Project to Be Completed in Lower American Ri-
ver36
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
Obama Administration-Era Clean Water Rule Repealed, Additional Changes to Waters of the United States Definition in Store38
Federal Agencies Release No Jeopardy Biological Opinions for the Central Valley Project39
Department of Water Resources Confirms California Kicks off Water Year 2020 with Strong Start41
Proposed Regulations Implementing Delta Levee Investment Strategy Result in Criticism from Some Quarters43
LAWSUITS FILED OR PENDING
Mayor of Maui and County Council Wrangle over Settlement Authority While U.S. Supreme Court Presses on in Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund
Case45
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
Circuit Court of Appeals:
Eleventh Circuit Affirms EPA’s Broad Discretion on Revoking State NPDES Permitting System47
Cahaba Riverkeeper et al. v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 938 F.3d 1157 (11th Cir. 2019).
RECENT CALIFORNIA DECISIONS
District Court of Appeal:
Fifth District Court Finds CEQA Challenge to Hydroelectric Dam Relicensing Process Preempted by Federal Power Act49
County of Butte v. Department of Water Resources, 39 Cal.App.5th 708 (5th Dist. 2019).
Fourth District Court Upholds Conditions Imposed by California Coastal Commission on Coastal Development Permit50
Lindstrom v. California Coastal Commission, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case No. D074132 (4th Dist. Sept. 19, 2019).
Third District Court Affirms Superior Court’s Grant of Preliminary Injunction on Shasta Dam Raising Project—California Supreme Court Denies Re-
view52
Westlands Water District v. Superior Court for the County of Shasta, S. Ct. Case No. C090139 (Sept. 26, 2019); (3rd Dist. Aug. 29, 2019).
Superior Court:
Superior Court Dismisses Challenge to Western Municipal Water District’s Water Rate Structure54
Heath v. Western Mun. Water, Case No. RIC 1806580 District, (Riverside Super. Ct. 2019).
