Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00245/USCOURTS-caed-1_06-cv-00245-21/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 42:4321 Review of Agency Action-Environment

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

PACIFIC COAST FEDERATION OF

FISHERMEN’S ASSOCIATIONS/

INSTITUTE FOR FISHERIES

RESOURCES, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

CARLOS M. GUTIERREZ, in his

official capacity as Secretary

of Commerce, et al.,

Defendants.

SAN LUIS & DELTA-MENDOTA WATER

AUTHORITY, et al.,

Defendant-Intervenors.

 

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1:06-cv-0245 OWW GSA

ORDER ON PLAINTIFFS’

REQUEST FOR STATUS

CONFERENCE

Plaintiffs filed a Request for Status Conference on February

22, 2008. Intervenors, State Water Contractors, filed opposition

on February 25, 2008. Intervenors, San Luis & Delta-Mendota

Water Authority and Westlands Water District, filed opposition to

the Request for Status Conference on February 25, 2008. 

The parties’ Cross-Motions for Summary Judgment have

previously been submitted for decision and are in the process of

being decided. The Court expects to issue its decision later

Case 1:06-cv-00245-OWW -GSA Document 224 Filed 03/10/08 Page 1 of 4
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this month. 

Plaintiffs submit that the Sacramento and San Joaquin River

Basins are experiencing a large and alarming decline in several

populations of salmon this year, including listed salmon species

at issue in this case. Plaintiffs further assert that high take

levels of certain salmon species are occurring at the Central

Valley Project and State Water Project pumps. Plaintiffs express

concern that imminent decision-making by Project operators

critical to salmonid health and habitat for the “coming year,”

requires a status conference, from which the inference can be

drawn that as yet unspecified action be taken. 

Intervenors, State Water Contractors, San Luis & DeltaMendota Water Authority and Westlands Water District, oppose the

request for status conference asserting that the request for

status conference will have an “inappropriate influence” on the

Court’s ruling on the pending cross-motions for summary judgment. 

All parties should recognize that the recent developments in

water management, availability, and health of the species at

issue are not part of the Administrative Record and present

issues separate from the issues to be decided on the submitted

summary judgment motions. Intervenors argue that the cause of

decline in salmonid abundance is occurring along the entire west

coast of North America, from California to Alaska and is

precipitated by a change in ocean conditions, not take at the

State Water Project or Central Valley Project pumps. 

Intervenors submit evidentiary material in the form of a

February 2, 2008, National Marine Fisheries Service white paper

on the subject of Coho and Chinook salmon decline in California

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during the spawning seasons of 2007-08. Intervenors further

suggest the Court should defer any consideration of the

salmonid decline issues to the Pacific Fisheries Management

Council, the Federal agency established by Congress in the

Magnusen-Stevens Fishery Conservation & Management Act, 16 U.S.C.

§§ 1851, 1852, which has a scheduled meeting to discuss salmon

abundance and management on or about March 11, 2008, at

Sacramento, California. Intervenors also submit data to

establish that a small take of juvenile salmon by Project pumps

is occurring in 2008 and that other causes, including fishing,

result in a greater take of adult salmon. An additional cause of

decline is alleged to be take of juvenile salmon by predators,

such as the striped bass.

These submissions demonstrate that, although no party

disputes that there has been a decline is salmonid species, there

is a material factual dispute over the cause and effect of the

decline. 

The Court is willing to hold a status conference at any time

it will be productive to advance the litigation or to address any

party’s request for interim relief. Currently, the dispositive

motions submitted for decision are based on an established final

administrative record. The taking of evidence on the submitted

motions is closed. No request has been made for interim relief. 

Intervenors have suggested that the Court request the Federal

Defendants file with the Court any materials they will provide to

the Pacific Fisheries Management Council at the March 11, 2008,

meeting and any recommendations made by the Pacific Fisheries

Management Council to the Secretary of Commerce arising from the

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March 11, 2008, meeting, that address conservation or management

measures related to the issue of salmon decline. 

By this order the Court directs that the Federal Defendants

provide any such information to all parties and to the Court, as

soon as it is available. 

The request for a status conference to consider post-record

information, is DENIED WITHOUT PREJUDICE, absent a request for

judicial action. The Court is available to the parties to

address any request for judicial action the parties deem to be

necessary and appropriate as authorized by law. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: March 7, 2008 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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