Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01207/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01207-20/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 893
Nature of Suit: Environmental Matters
Cause of Action: 05:702 Administrative Procedure Act

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE

COUNCIL, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

DIRK KEMPTHORNE, in his official

capacity as Secretary of the

Interior, et al.,

Defendants,

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER

RESOURCES,

Defendant-Intervenor,

STATE WATER CONTRACTORS,

Defendant-Intervenor,

SAN LUIS & DELTA-MENDOTA WATER

AUTHORITY, et al.,

Defendant-Intervenors.

 

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1:05-cv-1207 OWW TAG

ORDER ON PLAINTIFFS’

MOTIONS FOR SUMMARY

JUDGMENT

The Court has read and considered the memoranda of points

and authorities and other documents in support of and in

opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment, and has

heard and considered the arguments of counsel at the hearing on

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this matter held on April 26, 2007.

NOW THEREFORE, good cause appearing, the Court GRANTS IN

PART AND DENIES IN PART Plaintiffs’ motion for summary judgment. 

Specifically, the Court FINDS and DECLARES that the U.S. fish and

Wildlife Service’s (“FWS”) 2005 biological opinion on the impacts

of the long-term operations of the Central Valley Project and

State Water Project on the delta smelt (“2005 BiOp”) is unlawful

and inadequate on the following grounds:

(1) The Delta Smelt Risk Assessment Matrix, as currently

structured, does not provide a reasonable degree of certainty

that mitigation actions will take place, even if FWS retains the

discretion to draw upon numerous sources of water, not just the

Environmental Water Account, Central Valley Project Improvement

Act (b)(2) water, and Vernalis Adaptive Management Plan programs,

to support fish protection.

(2) FWS failed to utilize the best available scientific

information by not addressing the 2004 fall midwater trawl data

and the issue of climate change.

(3) The 2005 BiOp’s historical approach to setting take

limits fails to consider take in the context of most recent

overall species abundance and jeopardy.

(4) The 2005 BiOp did not adequately consider impacts to

critical habitat by (a) failing to analyze how project operations

will impact the value of critical habitat for the recovery of the

smelt and (b) failing to consider impacts upon the entire extent

of known smelt critical habitat.

The Court GRANTS Plaintiffs’ motions for summary judgment

with respect to these claims. Plaintiffs’ remaining claims are

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DENIED.

This Order is effective this 1st day of June, 2007, at 12:30

p.m. The parties have agreed that the effect of the order as to

Endangered Species’ Act consequence under §§ 7 and 9 shall be

stayed pending further order of this court or entry of final

judgment, whichever first occurs. 

The stay is without prejudice to the right of any party to

seek legal or equitable relief to address any injury in

accordance with the requirements of law. 

A separate remedies hearing shall be scheduled in accordance

with the schedule agreed to by the parties and adopted this day

in open court. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: June 1, 2007 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

emm0d6 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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