Filing protests and complaints, appearing before Boards and Commissions, writing briefs and appearing in court is a numbingly slow, painstaking effort. By basing their complaints on public trust arguments and not vulnerable legislation such as the Endangered Species Act, CSPA has maintained solid legal footing and earned the respect of water users and administrators throughout California. Because it works within the system and behind the scenes, CSPA'saccomplishments are unheralded and often unwelcome. It was easier for the Board to rubber stamp water right applications and petitions rather than accept protests. CSPA's use of the water rights process has left its mark on many riversand streams in California.
Protests often are just the beginning.
Although CSPA was able to stopthe proposed San Clemente Dam from being built on the Carmel River, the proposed New Los Padres Dam Project will probably demand the same amount of attention. The Town of Mammoth Lakes has cancelled the proposed crosswind runway at its airport that would have directed jets directly over Hot Creek because of action taken by CSPA and attorneys for Hot Creek Ranch. CSPA plans to file a lawsuit against the Bureau of Reclamation to require adequate flows to restore steelhead fisheries on the Santa Ynez River. And the end of CSPA's work is not in sight. CSPA has also documented over 64,000 days of dam flow violations by hydroelectric project licensees in California.