California Federal Judge Issues First Ruling On Southern Cal. Water Shutoffs

Judge Oliver Wanger issued a ruling concerning the Fed’s insistence that water be shut off to citizens in the Central and Southern California area in order to provide enough water for fish, claiming authority under the Endangered Species Act.

Brandon Middleton, lawyer for Pacific Legal Foundation, a property rights advocate, had this to say about Judge Wanger’s ruling.

“Judge Wanger recognized that federal regulators had not taken account of how water cutoffs could damage the human environment, and they did not use the best available science,” said PLF attorney Brandon Middleton.

“This is a powerful, excellent ruling,” said Middleton. “The judge is telling the feds that they can’t ignore the harsh human and environmental impacts of cutting off water to farms, workers, businesses, and communities. The judge is also saying the feds can’t get away with using slippery science to justify environmental restrictions that rob communities of their lifeblood – water.”