District Court Rejects Claims to Area of Origin Priority by Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority

On July 29, 2011, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a memorandum decision rejecting assertions by the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority that California area of origin law entitled its member districts to priority deliveries of Central Valley Project water and that the Bureau of Reclamation acted in violation of law by delivering less than 100% of contract amounts during contractual "Conditions of Shortage." 

In an almost 90-page decision by Honorable Judge Oliver Wanger, the court denied the Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority's motion for summary judgment and granted Federal Defendants' and Defendant-Intervenors San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority and Westlands Water District's cross-motions for summary judgment.  SLDMWA and Westlands are represented by KMTG in this case.

The district court's opinion in the case, Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority v. U.S. Dept. of the Interior, et al., Case No. 1:10-cv-0712 OWW DLB, may be found here.

If you have any questions concerning this topic, please contact Rebecca R. Akroyd from our office, or the KMTG attorney with whom you normally consult.