Scott V
12-09-2008, 04:02 PM
FRESNO (AP) — A coalition of water districts throughout California sued the state Fish and Game Commission today over new rules that could severely restrict pumping from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
Three lawsuits filed jointly by the State Water Contractors, Westlands Water District, the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority and other agencies follows a vote by the commission last month to enact emergency regulations that may scale back delta water supplies to safeguard the longfin smelt. The smelt is considered a bellwether species for the estuary.
The vote sparked protests from farmers and cities facing water shortages.
One of the suits claims the commission can’t invoke California endangered species laws to determine how much water is pumped through the federal reservoirs, canals and aqueducts. Another asserts the new potential cutbacks wouldn’t necessarily bring significant benefits to the fish.
The suits were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Three lawsuits filed jointly by the State Water Contractors, Westlands Water District, the San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water Authority and other agencies follows a vote by the commission last month to enact emergency regulations that may scale back delta water supplies to safeguard the longfin smelt. The smelt is considered a bellwether species for the estuary.
The vote sparked protests from farmers and cities facing water shortages.
One of the suits claims the commission can’t invoke California endangered species laws to determine how much water is pumped through the federal reservoirs, canals and aqueducts. Another asserts the new potential cutbacks wouldn’t necessarily bring significant benefits to the fish.
The suits were filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.