WESTERN WATER NEWS
Colorado River Basin States Are Quickly Approaching their 2026 Deadline for Management Guidelines231
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 Signature233
REGULATORY DEVELOPMENTS
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Releases Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan235
California State Water Resources Control Board to Set 2025-2026 Water Rights Fees237
Idaho Water Resources Board Hearing Officer Issues Important Evidentiary Ruling in Anderson Ranch Dam Raise Matter238
New Mexico Environmental Department Water-Related Updates239
The Steamflow Restoration Act: Washington State Department of Ecology’s Implementation Actions241
PENALTIES, SANCTIONS, AND EPA NEWS
Recent Penalties, Sanctions, and EPA News243
JUDICIAL DEVELOPMENTS
Federal:
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 Months247
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).
State:
California Supreme Court Replaces Greyhound Deference for Public Utilities Commission’s Interpretation of Its Code with Less Deferential Yamaha
Standard249
Center for Biological Diversity v. Public Utilities Commission, ___Cal.5th___, Case No. S283614 (Aug. 7, 2025).
Colorado Court of Appeals Interprets the 2019 Amendment to Colorado’s Ditch Right-of-Way
Statute250
Baker v. Safadi-Chamberlain, 25 COA 63 (Colo.App. 2025).
