CSPA, Friends of the River, North Coast River Alliance, Save the American River and the Winnemen Wintu Tribe filed a lawsuit against Westlands Water District (and its two water distribution districts) over the renewal of six interim Central Valley Project (CVP) water service contracts. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is named as a Real Party in Interest. The action, filed 25 August 2011, concerns six contracts providing up to over one million acre feet of water annually from the Delta. CVP water exports are a principle reason for the decline of Delta fisheries.
Westlands, et al, claims the contracts are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act. The coalition disagrees. The lawsuit asks for: injunctive relief, restraining defendant from carrying out the project; a writ of mandate, setting aside contract approval and declaratory relief, declaring the contracts to be unlawful. The law offices of Stephan C. Volker are representing CSPA and the Coalition in this matter.