lawsuit Archives - Page 2 of 4

Groundwater agency sues Delano over Niagara water bottling plant

May 24, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Concerns over how a newly built water bottling plant will impact the already over drafted aquifer prompted the Southern San Joaquin Municipal Utility District to sue the City of Delano last month. The district is asking that approvals for the Niagara water bottling plant be set aside and, ultimately, that a permanent injunction be granted…

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Rehearing on Kern River rejected by appellate court. Next step could be the California Supreme Court

May 24, 2024

• by Lois Henry

The 5th District Court of Appeal denied a petition Friday to rehear the court’s earlier decision to put a hold on a Kern County court’s order that had required the City of Bakersfield keep enough water in the Kern River for fish to survive. Both plaintiffs in the action have said they will likely petition…

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Kings County Farm Bureau sues state for placing the region on probation because of groundwater woes

May 17, 2024

• by Lisa McEwen, SJV Water

The Kings County Farm Bureau and two of its farmer members have filed suit against the state Water Resources Control Board, claiming the board exceeded its jurisdiction when it placed the Tulare Lake groundwater subbasin on probation April 16. A writ of mandate was filed May 15 in Kings County Superior Court. A writ is…

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Kern River combatants sent to their respective corners – for now

May 9, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Further legal action on the Kern River was put on pause Thursday morning following an order by the 5th District Court of Appeal that stayed a local injunction mandating enough water be kept in the river for fish. Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp said the 5th District’s order that stayed his earlier injunction…

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Woodlake residents sue government entities over flood damage; glad to see progress on infrastructure projects

April 23, 2024

• by Jesse Vad, SJV Water

More than a year after floods devastated the small town of Woodlake in Tulare County, residents finally feel hopeful about the future thanks to new infrastructure projects and an ongoing lawsuit they are bringing against local governments and other agencies. In March of 2023, homes in northwest Woodlake were hit with floods after historic storms…

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Dead fish piling up in pockets along the western reach of the Kern River concern Bakersfield residents; may prompt return to court

March 22, 2024

• by Lois Henry

After taking a bike ride along the Kern River recently, Bakersfield resident Jonathan Vegas was dismayed by what he found the farther west he pedaled. “More of the river has dried up, and the smell of death goes on for miles from the dead fish carcasses throughout the riverbed,” he wrote in an email. “It’s…

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Dead end river: Fish carcasses starting to pile up in stagnant pools at the Kern River’s western end

February 16, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Avid cyclist and angler Jonathan Vegas was thrilled last fall when he read that a local judge had issued an injunction requiring the City of Bakersfield to keep enough water in the Kern River to support fish populations. “It’s a dream of mine to be able to leave my backyard, take a two mile trip…

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Judge dismisses two claims, keeps key pieces of Kern River lawsuit intact

February 6, 2024

• by Lois Henry

A motion that challenged four claims made in a lawsuit against the City of Bakersfield over how it operates the Kern River got a half-and-half ruling from Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp Monday evening. However, the heart of the lawsuit – that Bakersfield breached its duties under the Public Trust Doctrine by dewatering…

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Judge leans toward dismissing some – but not key – actions in ongoing Kern River lawsuit

January 31, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Kern County Superior Court Judge Gregory Pulskamp let the battalion of attorneys in court Wednesday know he was inclined to drop at least one cause of action in the ongoing lawsuit brought by several public interest groups against the City of Bakersfield for dewatering the Kern River. But he likely won’t dismiss one of the…

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“Where’s the river?” Bakersfield lowers required Kern River flows pending interim flow agreement

January 25, 2024

• by Lois Henry

Required flows down the Kern River channel were lowered by the City of Bakersfield on Monday as officials have collected more data on how much water is actually needed for the river to get west of town, according to an email from the City Water Resources Department. The move is part of a larger effort…

NEWS

Groundwater agency sues Delano over Niagara water bottling plant

Rehearing on Kern River rejected by appellate court. Next step could be the California Supreme Court

Kings County Farm Bureau sues state for placing the region on probation because of groundwater woes

Kern River combatants sent to their respective corners – for now

Woodlake residents sue government entities over flood damage; glad to see progress on infrastructure projects

Dead fish piling up in pockets along the western reach of the Kern River concern Bakersfield residents; may prompt return to court

Dead end river: Fish carcasses starting to pile up in stagnant pools at the Kern River’s western end

Judge dismisses two claims, keeps key pieces of Kern River lawsuit intact

Judge leans toward dismissing some – but not key – actions in ongoing Kern River lawsuit

“Where’s the river?” Bakersfield lowers required Kern River flows pending interim flow agreement

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