California courts have long recognized the state’s duty to protect its tidelands, navigable waterways, and submerged lands (i.e., the land below the high tideline) under the common law public trust doctrine. However,...more
6/14/2023
/ Breach of Duty ,
California ,
Duty to Protect ,
Groundwater ,
Land Preservation ,
Land-Use Permits ,
Natural Resources ,
Public Agencies ,
Public Trust Doctrine ,
Public Use ,
Surface Water
On August 27, 2020, in Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources v. County of Stanislaus, Case No. S251709 (“Protecting Our Water”), the California Supreme Court held that the County in that instance could not...more
9/3/2020
/ CA Supreme Court ,
CEQA ,
Construction Permits ,
Department of Water Resources ,
Environmental Review ,
Groundwater ,
Land-Use Permits ,
Local Ordinance ,
Ministerial Exception ,
Water ,
Well Drilling
On August 29, 2018, the Third Appellate District published its long-awaited opinion in Environmental Law Foundation v. State Water Resources Control Board (“ELF”), a case involving a challenge to Siskiyou County’s (“County”)...more
After five parched years, substantial winter rains and Sierra snowpack have brought California a long-sought reprieve from drought, though not without presenting a new set of challenges. In February, nearly 200,000 residents...more
6/30/2017
/ Administrative Hearings ,
Administrative Proceedings ,
Bureau of Reclamation ,
Department of Water Resources ,
Groundwater ,
Groundwater Management Plan ,
Infrastructure ,
Permits ,
State Water Boards ,
State Water Project ,
Surface Water ,
Sustainability ,
Water ,
Water Rights ,
Water Supplies