CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS
Colorado River Basin States, including California, Are Quickly Approaching their 2026 Deadline for Management Guidelines3
Santa Clara Valley Water District Suspends Development of Pacheco Reservoir Expansion Project4
LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS
California Assembly Bill 823: A Bill to Ban Microplastics in Personal
Products and Cleaning Products Passes the Senate and Moves to Governor’s Desk for Signature6
California Legislature Shelves Bill Intended to Facilitate Farmland Conversions for Renewable Energy Development7
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
California State Water Resources Control Board to Set 2025-2026 Water Rights Fees10
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Releases Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan11
RECENT FEDERAL DECISIONS
District Court:
U.S. District Court Directs U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Complete Review of Petition for ESA Listing of White Sturgeon as “Threatened” within Nine Months14
San Francisco Baykeeper, et al. v. United States Fish and Wildlife Service, et al., ___F.Supp.4th___, Case No. 25-cv-01360-LJC (N.D. Cal. Sept. 3, 2025).
RECENT CALIFORNIA DECISIONS
California Supreme Court:
California Supreme Court Replaces Greyhound Deference for Public Utilities Commission’s Interpretation of Its Code with Less Deferential Yamaha Standard17
Center for Biological Diversity v. Public Utilities Commission, ___Cal.5th___, Case No. S283614 (Aug. 7, 2025).
Court of Appeal:
Structuring Water Service Agreements for New Developments: Lessons from the First District Court’s Decision in Solano v. Fairfield18
Solano County Orderly Growth Committee v. City of Fairfield, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case Nos. A170680 et. al. (1st Dist. Aug. 28, 2025).
First District Court Limits Use of Pre-Proposition 218 Assessment Formulas20
Thacker v. City of Fairfield, ___Cal.App.5th___, Case No. A171354 (1st Dist. Aug. 28, 2025).
