| March 6, 2019
Sacramento River Settlement Contractors Successfully Defend Challenge Under the Endangered Species Act to Renewal of Water Contracts On February 26, 2019, the Eastern District Court of California issued a 67-page decision and order on a motion for summary judgment regarding two claims brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental interest groups (collectively, NRDC) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) challenging the 2005 renewals of certain long-term water supply contacts between the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors, the Delta-Mendota Canal Contractors, and the Bureau of Reclamation related to the Central Valley Project. Specifically, NRDC challenged the adequacy of the required ESA section 7 consultation by and between Reclamation and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regarding alleged effects to delta smelt resulting from the renewal of such contracts…. Read More Written by Michelle E. Chester |