Center For Biological Diversity, Et Al. V. United States Bureau Of Reclamation, Et Al.
A lawsuit has been filed by the Center for Biological Diversity, Restore the Delta, and Planning and Conservation League against the United States Bureau of Reclamation, David Bernhardt, and the United States Department of the Interior for violating the National Environmental Policy Act. The plaintiffs aim to reverse the conversion of 14 Central Valley Project renewal contracts into permanent repayment contracts with water contractors and to prevent the conversion of any additional contracts, including 26 contracts that are currently being converted. The plaintiffs argue that the conversion of these contracts would have severe negative environmental impacts on the watershed, including reducing freshwater flows, endangering and destroying endangered and threatened fish species and critical habitat, and causing harmful algal blooms in the Delta. The lawsuit seeks to enforce compliance with the Central Valley Project Improvement Act and the Water Infrastructure Improvements of the Nation Act. The conversion of these contracts is likely to cause further destruction and adverse modification of fish habitat, impede the recovery of endangered and threatened species, and significantly affect public health and safety.
Read Next