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In 1994, PCL and two other groups (Plumas County and the
Santa Barbara Citizens Planning Association) sued the California
Department of Water Resources (DWR) over an agreement it reached
through non-public negotiations to change the rules for delivering
water from northern to southern California. After eight years,
PCL and its co-plaintiffs won. This case could affect whether
the state protects water in California's rivers and streams
and the San Francisco Bay Delta, what strategies the state
uses to meet water needs in cities and on farms as California
grows, and the right of the public to be involved in decisions
about water. Currently, the state is studying the environmental
impact of the "Monterey" amendments (named after the city
in which the state negotiated the challenged agreements) through
a formal Environmental Impact Report process. PCL and its
co-plaintiffs meet regularly with DWR to help guide this process.
By 2005, the state should publish a full analysis and hopefully,
suggest better alternative methods for meeting California's
water supply and environmental needs.
Here is the court decision in the "Monterey" case argued by PCL Board Member Tony Rossman:
Text of PCL vs. DWR-Tony Rossman (PDF format)
Here is an article on one aspect of the "Monterey" decision, a multi-million piece of property that the state of California gave away
as part of its negotiations with water contractors.
Kern
Bank article (PDF format)
For more information on this project please contact: Mindy McIntyre
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