Agricultural water districts are striking back at what they say is an historic water heist by the City of Bakersfield.
Tag Archives: Public Trust
City must keep close to half of the Kern River flowing according to judge’s order
“The judge has now signed an order that would require the city to keep at least 40% of the river flowing.”
Fish to receive 40% of Kern River flow under judge’s order
A Kern County Superior Court Judge signed an order that requires 40% of the Kern River’s flow to remain in the river to keep fish populations healthy.
A river runs through Bakersfield? Judge rules the Kern River must be allowed to flow
A judge has granted a preliminary injunction preventing water diversions that would dry up the river, requiring sufficient water to provide for fish and keep the Kern flowing in the city.
Kern County judge approves injunction that limits Bakersfield’s use of Kern River water
A Kern County judge has approved a preliminary injunction, to limit the amount of water from the Kern River the city of Bakersfield can use. The injunction will prevent the now-flowing Kern River from returning to the dry state it was in last year.
California Court Rules Against Kern River Water Diversions
Monday’s ruling prohibits the city from implementing diversions that reduce river flows below the volume necessary to maintain good condition for fish.
Select quotes from preliminary injunction to keep Water in the Kern River
A selection of quotes from the Kern County Superior Court’s ruling granting a preliminary injunction in Bring Back The Kern v Bakersfield.
[Court Record] Court grants Plaintiffs’ Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Bring Back The Kern v Bakersfield)
Full text of the Kern County Superior Court’s ruling granting a preliminary injunction that prevents the City of Bakersfield from making diversions in a manner that habitually dries the Kern River.
Court Grants Preliminary Injunction to keep Water in the Kern River
Today, the Kern County Superior Court granted Water Audit California’s and other
joint plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction that prevents the City of Bakersfield from
making diversions in a manner that habitually dries the Kern River.
‘We’ve now got a seat at the table’: City of Bakersfield ordered to halt excess pull of water from Kern River to protect wildlife
“A Kern County judge has granted a preliminary injunction in a lawsuit by citizen water advocacy groups, filed against the City of Bakersfield and its water usage. To ensure protection of fish and other river wildlife, the city is prohibited from using more water than it needs.”
Political winds favoring natural environment
“[T]he urgency of Climate Change requires a paradigm shift towards managing our water, preserving our carbon-sequestering and cooling forests, protecting the essential viability of our existing vineyards, and conserving the rare biodiverse hot spot that is Napa Valley.”
Kern County judge considers injunction to halt Bakersfield’s water distribution amid environmental lawsuit
“A Kern County Superior Court judge is considering whether to issue an injunction that would prevent the city of Bakersfield from distributing water in the Kern River until the lawsuit is settled.”
Environmental groups seek change to water flows for California’s Kern River
“A Kern County judge heard arguments Friday in a case targeting water flows in the Kern River and whether they’re sufficient to support its fish.”
Kern River legal wrangling raises questions about how – or whether – the river can serve the needs of people, fish and ag
“Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp came back several times during an Oct. 13 hearing to what he saw as a “major issue” in the dispute over keeping water in the Kern River – its plumbing.”
It’s time to show your support for the Kern River
“The courtroom is where most water policy gets decided, and if we want our river to have water, then we, the average citizens of Bakersfield, have to go to court, too.”
Rewatering the Kern River: Water Audit seeks injunction in Kern River lawsuit
On August 10, 2023 a coalition of community advocacy groups filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to return a living river to the City of Bakersfield. The litigation proposes a community alternative will maintain both river and irrigation flows by relocating diversions to downstream of the City.
In Bakersfield, a lawsuit aims to turn a dry riverbed into a flowing river
Six environmental groups sued the city of Bakersfield, saying that continuing to allow diversions of water upstream from the city harms the environment and the community.
Bakersfield has been derelict toward the public on the Kern River, group alleges
Water Audit California sent a letter to the Bakersfield Water Resources Department demanding the city conduct a study of how its diversions from the river are impacting the public trust and determine ways to avoid those impacts.
“Rewatering Napa’s Rivers”
The American Bar Association’s Natural Resources & Environment vol 36 no 1 contained “Rewatering Napa’s Rivers” by Karrigan Bork and Amber Manfree. The article describes the history of California’s legislative efforts to protect fisheries, the structural failures which led to non-enforcement, and the role of private entities like Water Audit in effecting the will of …
Mount Veeder winery wins Napa County approval
The Planning Commission last week approved the 20,000-gallon-a-year winery. The planned 4,638-square-foot building at 2072 Mount Veeder Road will replace a house and barn that burned in the 2017 Nuns fire… Water Audit California, meanwhile, urged the county to deny the application. Grant Reynolds of the group wrote that Pickle Canyon Creek runs through the …
Continue reading “Mount Veeder winery wins Napa County approval”
Water issues require decisive action
“As a director of Water Audit California, I was bemused to read the response of the city of St. Helena’s attorney to our litigation…”
Water Audit Sues St. Helena Over Alleged Failure to Uphold Public Trust
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Water Audit California is again suing the City of St. Helena over their management of water resources. This comes on the heels of a similar suit filed June 1 against Napa County. Both cases aim to increase monitoring and oversight of groundwater and surface water resources.
[Court Record] Water Audit files suit against City of St. Helena
Water Audit California is again suing the City of St. Helena over their management of water resources. This comes on the heels of a similar suit filed June 1 against Napa County. Both cases aim to increase monitoring and oversight of groundwater and surface water resources. The full complaint below.
[Court Record] Water Audit files suit against Napa County
A week ago, we filed a lawsuit against the County of Napa for Negligent Breach of Trustee Duties and related issues. We’ve decided to publish the full text so you can read our reasons for yourselves.