Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00426/USCOURTS-caed-1_20-cv-00426-5/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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Stip. and Order Re Briefing Sched. & Page Limits for Mot. for Prelim. Inj.(1:20-cv-00426-DAD-EPG)

XAVIER BECERRA

Attorney General of California

ROBERT W. BYRNE

Senior Assistant Attorney General

TRACY L. WINSOR (SBN 186164)

Supervising Deputy Attorney General

COLLEEN R. FLANNERY (SBN 297957)

DANIEL M. FUCHS (SBN 179033)

ADAM LEVITAN (SBN 280226)

L. ELIZABETH SARINE (SBN 285631)

SARA D. VAN LOH (SBN 264704)

Deputy Attorneys General

1515 Clay Street, Suite 2000

Oakland, CA 94612-0550

Tel: (510) 879-3139

Fax: (510) 622-2270

E-mail: Sara.VanLoh@doj.ca.gov

Attorneys for Plaintiffs California Natural 

Resources Agency, California Environmental 

Protection Agency, and People of the State of 

California by and through Xavier Becerra, Attorney 

General of the State of California 

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

THE CALIFORNIA NATURAL 

RESOURCES AGENCY, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

WILBUR ROSS, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 1:20-cv-00426-DAD-EPG

Related Case No. 1:20-cv-00431-DAD-EPG

STIPULATION AND ORDER SETTING 

BRIEFING SCHEDULE AND PAGE 

LIMITS FOR PLAINTIFFS’ MOTION 

FOR PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION

Date: May 7, 2020

Time: TBD

Dept: 5

Judge: Hon. Dale A. Drozd

Trial Date: Not set

Action Filed: February 20, 2020

Case 1:20-cv-00426-JLT-EPG Document 71 Filed 04/27/20 Page 1 of 7
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Stip. and Order Re Briefing Sched. & Page Limits for Mot. for Prelim. Inj.(1:20-cv-00426-DAD-EPG)

This stipulation is entered by Plaintiffs the California Natural Resources Agency, the 

California Environmental Protection Agency, and the People of the State of California by and 

through California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (collectively, “Plaintiffs”); Defendants 

Wilbur Ross in his official capacity, Chris Oliver in his official capacity, David Bernhardt in his 

official capacity, Aurelia Skipwith in her official capacity, Brenda Burman in her official 

capacity, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and 

the United States Bureau of Reclamation (collectively, the “Federal Defendants”); IntervenorDefendants the Sacramento River Settlement Contractors and the Tehama-Colusa Canal 

Authority (collectively, the “Sacramento River Intervenors”); Intervenor-Defendants the South 

San Joaquin Irrigation District and Oakdale Irrigation District (“SSJID” and “OID,” respectively); 

Intervenor-Defendant the State Water Contractors; Intervenor-Defendants the San Luis & DeltaMendota Water Authority and Westlands Water District; and Intervenor-Defendants the Friant 

Water Authority (“FWA”) and Arvin-Edison Water Storage District (“Arvin-Edison”) 

(collectively, the “Friant Intervenors”). All Intervenor Defendants collectively are referred to 

herein as the “Intervenor-Defendants.” 

Plaintiffs, the Federal Defendants, and the Intervenor-Defendants are collectively referred 

to hereinafter as the “Parties.”

RECITALS

WHEREAS on February 20, 2020, Plaintiffs filed the instant action naming only the 

Federal Defendants as Defendants. See ECF No. 1.

WHEREAS on April 21, 2020, Plaintiffs filed a first amended complaint, a motion for 

preliminary injunction with a hearing date of May 19, 2020, and an ex parte application for an 

order shortening time for the hearing of that motion, along with accompanying documents. ECF 

Nos. 51–60.

WHEREAS on April 22, 2020, the Court entered a minute order reading:

The court has received and reviewed plaintiffs' ex parte request to shorten time 52 on 

the recently-filed motion for preliminary injunction (PI) 54. Given the preliminary 

showing therein indicating that irreparable harm may ensue as early as May 11, 2020, 

the court intends to set a joint hearing on the PI motion and on the parallel PI motion 

in the companion case Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations v. Ross, 

Case 1:20-cv-00426-JLT-EPG Document 71 Filed 04/27/20 Page 2 of 7
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Stip. and Order Re Briefing Sched. & Page Limits for Mot. for Prelim. Inj.(1:20-cv-00426-DAD-EPG)

1:20-cv-00431 DAD EPG, for either May 5, 6, or 7, 2020. Given the numbers of 

parties involved, the court would prefer that all parties in both cases meet and confer 

immediately in an effort to reach a stipulation to one or two proposed time(s) and 

date(s) for the hearing that best suit their schedules. The court also requests that the 

parties attempt to reach agreement as to a briefing schedule that would give the court 

at least 7 calendar days prior to the hearing date to review any opposition(s) and at 

least four calendar days to review any replies. The parties are cautioned that, in light 

of this accelerated timeline, limiting participation by the intervenors to briefing of 

issues that are truly unique to those intervenors will be necessary. For example, the 

court does not anticipate having sufficient time to review declarations from intervenor 

experts who plan to address issues already covered by the federal defendants, even if 

those expert opinions diverge from federal defendants' expert opinions. Such nuanced 

differences must, as a matter of practical reality, wait until briefing on the merits 

takes place. Thus, any submission by intervenors must be strictly limited to issues and 

opinions truly unique to the intervenor. Any stipulation should take this into account 

or the court will consider imposing such constraints sua sponte.

ECF NO. 63.

WHEREAS the Parties have met and conferred as directed by the Court.

WHEREAS the Parties agree on a hearing date of May 7, 2020.

WHEREAS the Parties have reached agreement on a briefing schedule as follows: Federal 

Defendants and Intervenor-Defendants must file any opposition(s) by noon Pacific Daylight Time

(“PDT”) on April 30, 2020; Plaintiffs may file a reply brief until 11:59 PDT on May 3, 2020; 

recognizing that the court directed the parties to allow four days between the reply brief and the 

hearing, Plaintiffs will make every effort to file their reply brief sooner, if possible.

WHEREAS Plaintiffs and Federal Defendants agree that Federal Defendants’ opposition 

brief will be limited to no more than 25 pages.

WHEREAS Plaintiffs and Intervenor-Defendants agree that Intervenor-Defendants’ 

oppositions will be limited to no more than seven pages each.

WHEREAS the Sacramento River Intervenors have committed to filing a one-page 

combined opposition brief.

WHEREAS the Parties agree that Plaintiffs may file a single reply brief of no more than 15 

pages, plus three pages for each Intervenor-Defendant opposition timely filed, except that 

Plaintiffs are entitled to only one extra page in reply to the Sacramento River Intervenors’ onepage combined opposition brief.

Case 1:20-cv-00426-JLT-EPG Document 71 Filed 04/27/20 Page 3 of 7
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Stip. and Order Re Briefing Sched. & Page Limits for Mot. for Prelim. Inj.(1:20-cv-00426-DAD-EPG)

STIPULATION

NOW, THEREFORE, it is hereby stipulated by and between the Parties, through their 

respective counsel, as follows:

1. The hearing date on Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction may be set for May 

7, 2020, at a time to be determined by the court.

2. Federal Defendants and Intervenor-Defendants must file any opposition briefs by 

noon PDT on April 30, 2020; Plaintiffs may file a reply brief until 11:59 p.m. PDT on May 3, 

2020, and will make every effort to file their reply brief sooner, if possible.

3. Federal Defendants’ opposition brief will be limited to no more than 25 pages.

4. Intervenor-Defendants’ oppositions will be limited to no more than seven pages each.

5. The Sacramento River Intervenors will file a one-page combined opposition brief.

6. Plaintiffs may file a single reply brief of no more than 15 pages, plus three pages for 

each Intervenor-Defendant opposition timely filed, except that Plaintiffs are entitled to only one 

extra page in reply to the Sacramento River Intervenors’ one-page combined opposition brief.

Dated: April 27, 2020 Respectfully submitted,

XAVIER BECERRA

Attorney General of California

TRACY L. WINSOR

Supervising Deputy Attorney General

/S/ Daniel M. Fuchs

DANIEL M. FUCHS

Deputy Attorney General

Attorneys for Plaintiffs

California Natural Resources Agency, 

California Environmental Protection Agency, 

and People of the State of California by and 

through Attorney General Xavier Becerra 

Case 1:20-cv-00426-JLT-EPG Document 71 Filed 04/27/20 Page 4 of 7
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Stip. and Order Re Briefing Sched. & Page Limits for Mot. for Prelim. Inj.(1:20-cv-00426-DAD-EPG)

DATED: April 27, 2020 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL RESOURCES 

DIVISION, WILDLIFE & MARINE 

RESOURCES SECTION

By: /S/ Lesley Lawrence-Hammer

LESLEY LAWRENCE-HAMMER

Attorneys for Federal Defendants

DATED: April 27, 2020 DOWNEY BRAND LLP

By: /S/ Merdith Nikkel

MEREDITH NIKKEL

Attorneys for Proposed Defendants-Intervenors 

RECLAMATION DISTRICT NO. 108, SUTTER 

MUTUAL WATER COMPANY; NATOMAS 

CENTRAL MUTUAL WATER COMPANY; 

RIVER GARDEN FARMS WATER COMPANY; 

PLEASANT GROVE-VERONA MUTUAL 

WATER COMPANY; PELGER MUTUAL 

WATER COMPANY; MERIDIAN FARMS 

WATER COMPANY; HENRY D. RICHTER, et al.; 

HOWALD FARMS, INC.; OJI BROTHERS 

FARM, INC.; OJI FAMILY PARTNERSHIP; 

CARTER MUTUAL WATER COMPANY; 

WINDSWEPT LAND AND LIVESTOCK 

COMPANY; MAXWELL IRRIGATION 

DISTRICT; BEVERLY F. ANDREOTTI, et al.; 

TISDALE IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE 

COMPANY; PROVIDENT IRRIGATION 

DISTRICT; PRINCETON-CODORA-GLENN 

IRRIGATION DISTRICT and TEHAMACOLUSA 

CANAL AUTHORITY

DATED: April 27, 2020 SOMACH SIMMONS & DUNN

By: /S/ Andrew Hitchings

ANDREW HITCHINGS 

Attorneys for Defendants-Intervenors GLENN 

COLUSA IRRIGATION DISTRICT; 

RECLAMATION DISTRICT NO. 104; 

CONAWAY PRESERVATION GROUP, LLC; 

DAVID AND ALICE te VELDE FAMILY TRUST; 

PELGER ROAD 1700, LLC; ANDERSONCOTTONWOOD IRRIGATION DISTRICT; CITY 

OF REDDING; and KNIGHTS LANDING 

INVESTORS, LLC 

Case 1:20-cv-00426-JLT-EPG Document 71 Filed 04/27/20 Page 5 of 7
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Stip. and Order Re Briefing Sched. & Page Limits for Mot. for Prelim. Inj.(1:20-cv-00426-DAD-EPG)

DATED: April 27, 2020 O’LAUGHLIN & PARIS, LLP

By: /S/ Timothy J. Wasiewski 

TIMOTHY J. WASIEWSKI

Attorneys for Proposed Defendant-Intervenor 

OAKDALE IRRIGATION DISTRICT

DATED: April 27, 2020 ROBBINS, BROWNING, GODWIN & 

MARCHINI

By: /S/ Kenneth Robbins

KENNETH ROBBINS

Attorneys for Proposed Defendant-Intervenor

SOUTH SAN JOAQUIN IRRIGATION 

DISTRICT

DATED: April 27, 2020 VAN NESS FELDMAN, LLP

By: /S/ Jenna Mandell-Rice

JENNA MANDELL-RICE, pro hac vice

Attorneys for Defendant-Intervenor

THE STATE WATER CONTRACTORS

Dated: April 27, 2020

/s/ Daniel J. O’Hanlon

DANIEL J. O’HANLON

Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann & Girard

A Professional Corporation

400 Capitol Mall, 27th Floor

Sacramento, CA 95814

(916) 321-4500 (tel)

(916) 321-4555 (fax)

dohanlon@kmtg.com

Attorneys for Defendant-Intervenors, San Luis & 

Delta-Mendota Water Authority and Westlands 

Water District

Dated: April 27, 2020

KAPLAN KIRSCH & ROCKWELL, LLP

By: /s/ Matthew G. Adams

Matthew G. Adams

Sara V. Mogharabi

Attorneys for Proposed Intervenor-Defendants Friant 

Water Authority and Arvin-Edison Water Storage 

District

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Stip. and Order Re Briefing Sched. & Page Limits for Mot. for Prelim. Inj.(1:20-cv-00426-DAD-EPG)

ORDER

Pursuant to the Parties’ Stipulation, the Court hereby orders as follows:

1. A hearing on Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary injunction is set for May 7, 2020, 

at 9:30 a.m. The hearing will be held via the Court’s Zoom video conference system. The 

court will provide the parties with further details in advance of the hearing. 

2. Federal Defendants may file a brief in opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion for preliminary 

injunction no later than noon Pacific Daylight Time on April 30, 2020. Federal Defendants’ 

opposition brief is limited to no more than 25 pages.

3. Intervenor-Defendants may each file a brief in opposition to Plaintiffs’ motion for 

preliminary injunction no later than noon Pacific Daylight Time on April 30, 2020. Any 

submission by intervenors must be strictly limited to issues and opinions truly unique to the 

intervenor. Intervenor-Defendants’ opposition briefs are limited to no more than seven pages 

each.

7. Plaintiffs may file a single, coordinated reply brief to all oppositions no later than 

11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on May 3, 2020. Plaintiffs must make every effort to file their 

reply brief sooner, if possible. Plaintiffs’ reply brief is limited to no more than 15 pages, plus 

three pages for each Intervenor-Defendant opposition timely filed, except that Plaintiffs are 

entitled to only one extra page in reply to the Sacramento River Intervenors’ one-page combined 

opposition brief.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: April 27, 2020 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:20-cv-00426-JLT-EPG Document 71 Filed 04/27/20 Page 7 of 7