Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01290/USCOURTS-caed-1_15-cv-01290-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 899
Nature of Suit: Other Statutes - Administrative Procedure Act/Review or Appeal of Agency Decision
Cause of Action: 05:702 Administrative Procedure Act

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28 1 1:15-cv-01290-LJO-GSA

ORDER GRANTING YUROK TRIBE’S MOTION TO INTERVENE AS DEFENDANT (DOC. 18)

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

SAN LUIS & DELTA-MENDOTA 

WATER AUTHORITY and 

WESTLANDS WATER DISTRICT,

Plaintiffs,

vs.

SALLY JEWELL, as Secretary of the U.S. 

Department of the Interior; U.S. 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR; 

U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION; 

ESTEVAN LÓPEZ, as Commissioner, 

Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department 

of the Interior; and DAVID MURILLO, as 

Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region, 

Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Department 

of the Interior,

Defendants,

and

YUROK TRIBE, a federally recognized 

Tribe,

Proposed DefendantIntervenor

No. 1:15-cv-01290-LJO-GSA

ORDER GRANTING YUROK TRIBE’S 

MOTION TO INTERVENE AS 

DEFENDANT (Doc. 18)

THIS MATTER is before the Court on the motion to intervene of the Proposed 

Defendant-Intervenor Yurok Tribe (“Yurok”). Plaintiffs’ counsel does not object provided that 

Proposed Defendant-Intervenor will not expand the claims in this case. Defendants’ counsel has 

indicated that Defendants would stipulate to Yurok’s intervention.

This motion to intervene satisfies the four requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 

24(a) to intervene as of right. The motion was timely filed at an early stage of the proceedings. 

Yurok claims a significant protectable interest in the Klamath and Trinity River fisheries, which 

provide anadromous fish used for Yurok subsistence and cultural purposes. Disposition of this 

action without Yurok may as a practical matter impair its federally reserved fishing rights in the 

Case 1:15-cv-01290-LJO-EPG Document 26 Filed 08/24/15 Page 1 of 2
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28 2 1:15-cv-01290-LJO-GSA

ORDER GRANTING YUROK TRIBE’S MOTION TO INTERVENE AS DEFENDANT (DOC. 18)

Klamath and Trinity River fisheries. The applicant is a federally recognized tribe and its interest 

is inadequately represented by the existing parties.

The Court finds that it is appropriate pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 24 to 

allow Yurok to intervene in this action as a party defendant in order to protect its federally 

reserved fishing rights. Intervention is appropriate pursuant to Rule 24(a) as it appears that 

disposition of the action “as a practical matter” may impair or impede the interests of Yurok. 

Alternatively, this request is appropriate pursuant to Rule 24(b) as the request is timely, the 

applicant’s claim or defense shares a common question of law or fact, and intervention would not 

unduly delay or prejudice the adjudication.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Yurok’s motion to intervene as of right, or alternatively 

with permission, as a defendant in this action is GRANTED, conditioned upon Yurok making 

every effort to avoid duplicative briefing. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: August 24, 2015 /s/ Lawrence J. O’Neill 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:15-cv-01290-LJO-EPG Document 26 Filed 08/24/15 Page 2 of 2