Ruling could jeopardize state water supplies

April 2007

U.S. Water News Online

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A judge has reaffirmed a decision that California must stop pumping water out of the delta within 60 days unless it complies with environmental laws protecting fish.

Alameda County Superior Court Judge Frank Roesch filed an order reiterating his position that the Department of Water Resources lacks the proper permits or authority to pump water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The Department of Water Resources had asked him to reconsider his March 22 ruling.

A department spokesman said the state will now appeal the decision.

The state pumps water from its Harvey O. Banks facility to more than 23 million people in Southern California, the Bay Area and the Central Valley. If the pumps were shut down it would cripple state water supplies.

The water department has applied for authorization from state wildlife officials to run the pumps. A decision is expected within the next month, which could satisfy the judge.


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