This is just one post in the Judge Wanger delta smelt ruling Category

Supporters of delta smelt lose legal bid to cancel water deals

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 20, 2008 at 7:23 am

From the Fresno Bee:

A federal judge on Wednesday rejected a request by environmentalists that could have slowed the flow of water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to agricultural interests to the south. The 92-page ruling by U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger is the latest in a case involving the tiny delta smelt, which environmentalists say is facing extinction largely because of reduced water coming into the delta, and from increased pumping.

The environmentalists wanted Wanger to cancel long-term contracts for more than a dozen west-side water districts that get water from the delta. But Wanger’s ruling said that it would be pointless to renegotiate the contracts to help the smelt, because the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation already has the ability to stop water deliveries to the affected districts to satisfy requirements of the Endangered Species Act.

The districts — which include the James Irrigation District, centered on the town of San Joaquin, and the adjacent Tranquillity Irrigation District — said Wanger’s ruling gives them a sense of stability.

It also likely sets a legal precedent for nearby water districts with similar contracts that the environmentalists didn’t challenge. That includes the massive Westlands Water District on the Valley’s west side.