Tag: Change in Point of Diversion

Stretched Thin: Protestant Attorneys Face Overlapping Delta Conveyance Project Hearings

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

The week of February 23-27 presents attorneys representing Delta communities with an impossible calendar. The State Water Board's Delta Conveyance Project water rights hearing has added February 23, 24, and 25 as hearing days. The Delta Stewardship Council has scheduled its appeal hearing on DWR's certification of consistency with the Delta Plan for February 26 … Continue reading Stretched Thin: Protestant Attorneys Face Overlapping Delta Conveyance Project Hearings

DWR’s Selective Conflict: It Applies in Court, But Not Before the Agencies

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

On Monday, February 9, 2026, Administrative Hearing Officer Nicole Kuenzi denied Somach Simmons & Dunn's motion to stay the Delta Conveyance Project water rights hearing pending resolution of DWR's disqualification motion in Sacramento Superior Court. The hearing will continue as scheduled, with most of the protestants' rebuttal case likely to conclude before the March 20 … Continue reading DWR’s Selective Conflict: It Applies in Court, But Not Before the Agencies

State Tries to Sideline Sacramento & Stockton’s Lawyers — Court Hears Stay Request

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

On January 23, 2026, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) filed a motion in Sacramento County Superior Court seeking to disqualify the law firm of Somach Simmons & Dunn, longtime counsel for the County of Sacramento, the City of Stockton, in three of the ten consolidated cases challenging DWR’s approvals of the Delta Conveyance … Continue reading State Tries to Sideline Sacramento & Stockton’s Lawyers — Court Hears Stay Request

Hearing Officer Blocks DWR’s Attempt to Maintain “Inchoate Right to Object” to Delta Conveyance Proceeding

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

In what may be the most significant California water rights proceeding since Decision 1275 granted the original State Water Project permits in 1967, Hearing Officer Nicole L. Kuenzi has issued a procedural ruling to protect the integrity of the Delta Conveyance Project hearing process. The May 2, 2025 ruling directly addresses the Department of Water … Continue reading Hearing Officer Blocks DWR’s Attempt to Maintain “Inchoate Right to Object” to Delta Conveyance Proceeding

History: Water Board ruled against delaying twin tunnels CPOD hearing for Bay-Delta Plan update

~ Deirdre Des Jardins ~ Leave a comment

In 2015, the Department of Water Resources filed a petition for Change in Point of Diversion with the State Water Resources Control Board for the WaterFix / twin tunnels project. Environmental, fishing, and Delta groups strongly protested the Water Board proceeding with the hearing before the Bay-Delta Water Quality Control Plan Update. But the Hearing … Continue reading History: Water Board ruled against delaying twin tunnels CPOD hearing for Bay-Delta Plan update