August 14, 2013 — A U.S. District Court judge in Fresno halted water releases meant to prevent a fish kill on the lower Klamath River on Tuesday, granting a temporary restraining order sought by farmers in the San Joaquin Valley who filed a lawsuit against the federal government last week.
Judge Lawrence J. O'Neill noted that the runs were meant to stave off a potential “serious fish die off,” but said holding off for a few days wouldn't change the outcome of the releases.
”Having considered all of the materials filed thus far, the Court concludes that a brief temporary restraining order to maintain the status quo is warranted,” O'Neill wrote in the order that runs through Friday. “This would afford an opportunity for the Court to consider a reply and perform a more measured analysis of the issues.”
The suit filed by the Westlands Water District and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority against the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation alleges the releases from the Trinity Reservoir — which were slated to begin Tuesday — would be unlawful and would further decrease the little water available to farmers for irrigation.
O'Neill states the federal environmental assessment issued for the flows “gives little attention to the potential environmental impacts of reduced water supplies to water users in the Sacramento San Joaquin Basin,” but notes a fish kill could have “severe impacts on both commercial and tribal fishing interests.”
Read the full story at the Times-Standard News