San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Auth. v. Locke

• Decision Date: 22 December 2014
• Docket Number: 12–15296.,12–15293,Nos. 12–15144,12–15291,12–15289,12–15290,s. 12–15144
• Parties: SAN LUIS & DELTA–MENDOTA WATER AUTHORITY; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta; State Water Contractors, Plaintiffs–Appellees, California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff–Appellee, v. Gary LOCKE; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants, and The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellants. San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District, Plaintiffs–Appellants, and Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta; State Water Contractors, Plaintiffs, California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff, v. Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellees, The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of The River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellees. San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, Plaintiffs, California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff, and State Water Contractors, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellees, The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellees. San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; State Water Contractors, Plaintiffs, California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff, and Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, Plaintiffs–Appellants, v. Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellees, The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellees. San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; State Water Contractors; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, Plaintiffs, California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff, and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellees, The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation Of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellees. San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta; State Water Contractors, Plaintiffs–Appellees, California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff–Appellee, v. Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellants, and The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants.
• Court: U.S. Court of Appeals — Ninth Circuit

776 F.3d 971

SAN LUIS & DELTA–MENDOTA WATER AUTHORITY; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta; State Water Contractors, Plaintiffs–Appellees,
California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff–Appellee,
v.
Gary LOCKE; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell,^* Defendants,
and
The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellants.
San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District, Plaintiffs–Appellants,
and
Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta; State Water Contractors, Plaintiffs,
California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff,
v.
Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellees,
The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of The River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellees.
San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, Plaintiffs,
California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff,
and
State Water Contractors, Plaintiff–Appellant,
v.
Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellees,
The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellees.
San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; State Water Contractors, Plaintiffs,
California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff,
and
Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, Plaintiffs–Appellants,
v.
Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellees,
The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellees.
San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; State Water Contractors; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta, Plaintiffs,
California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff,
and
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Plaintiff–Appellant,
v.
Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellees,
The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation Of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants–Appellees.
San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority; Westlands Water District; Stockton East Water District; Metropolitan Water District of Southern California; Oakdale Irrigation District; South San Joaquin Irrigation District; Kern County Water Agency; Coalition for a Sustainable Delta; State Water Contractors, Plaintiffs–Appellees,
California Department of Water Resources, Intervenor–Plaintiff–Appellee,
v.
Gary Locke; United States Department of Commerce; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Marine Fisheries Service; James W. Balsiger; Rodney R. McInnis; U.S. Department of the Interior; United States Bureau of Reclamation; Michael L. Connor; Donald R. Glaser; Jane Lubchenco; Sally Jewell, Defendants–Appellants,
and
The Bay Institute; California Trout; Friends of the River; Natural Resources Defense Council; Northern California Council of the Federation of Fly Fishers; San Francisco Baykeeper; Sacramento River Preservation Trust; Winnemem Wintu Tribe; Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Associations, Inc., Institute for Fisheries Research, Intervenor–Defendants.

Nos. 12–15144, 12–15289, 12–15290, 12–15291, 12–15293, 12–15296.

United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.

Argued and Submitted Sept. 15, 2014
Filed Dec. 22, 2014

Reversed in part, affirmed in part, and remanded.

[776 F.3d 978]

Rebecca Rose Akroyd, Daniel J. O'Hanlon, Hanspeter Walter, Kronick, Moskovitz, Tiedemann, & Girard, PC, Sacramento, CA, for Plaintiffs–Appellees/Cross–Appellants San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority and Westlands Water District.

David A. Diepenbrock, Eileen M. Diepenbrock, and Jonathan R. Marz, Diepenbrock Elkin LLP, Sacramento, CA, for Plaintiffs–Appellees/Cross-Appellants San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority and Westlands Water District.

Jon D. Rubin, General Counsel, Sacramento, CA, for Plaintiff–Appellee/Cross–Appellant San Luis & Delta–Mendota Water Authority.
Robert D. Thornton and Paul S. Weiland, Nossaman LLP, Irvine, CA, for Plaintiff–Appellee/Cross–Appellant Kern County Water Agency and Plaintiff–Appellee Coalition for a Sustainable Delta.
Amelia T. Minaberrigarai, General Counsel, Bakersfield, CA, for Plaintiff–Appellee/Cross–Appellant Kern County Water Agency.
Martha F. Bauer, Mark J. Mathews, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, Denver, CO; Steve Sims, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, Albuquerque, New Mexico; David Longly Bernhardt (argued), Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP, Washington, D.C.; Harold Craig Manson, General Counsel, Fresno, CA, for Plaintiff–Appellee/Cross–Appellant Westlands Water District.
Tim O'Laughlin and William C. Paris, III, O'Laughlin & Paris LLP, for Plaintiffs–Appellees Oakdale Irrigation District and South San Joaquin Irrigation District.
Steven M. Anderson, Melissa R. Cushman, Steven G. Martin, and Gregory K. Wilkinson, Best Best & Krieger, LLP, Riverside, CA; Paeter E. Garcia, Best Best & Krieger LLP, Los Angeles, CA, for Plaintiffs–Appellees State Water Contractors.
Alexis K. Galbraith, Karna Elizabeth Harrigfeld, Jennifer Lynn Spaletta, and Jeanne M. Zolezzi, Herum Crabtree, Stockton, CA, for Plaintiff–Appellee Stockton East Water District.
Christopher J. Carr and William M. Sloan (argued), Morrison & Foerster LLP, San Francisco, CA; Linus Masouredis, Chief Deputy General Counsel, Sacramento, CA, for Plaintiff–Appellee Metropolitan Water District of Southern CA.
Michael M. Edson, Allison Goldsmith, Daniel S. Harris, Clifford T. Lee (argued),

[776 F.3d 979]

Deputy Attorneys General–Office of the California Attorney General, San Francisco, CA, for Intervenor–Plaintiff–Appellee California Department of Water Resources.
Ellen J. Durkee (argued) and Bridget McNeil, United States Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., for Defendants–Appellants/Cross–Appellees United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, United States Department of the Interior, and United States Bureau of Reclamation.
Michael R. Sherwood, Erin M. Tobin, Trent W. Orr and George Matthew Torgun, Earthjustice, San Francisco, CA, for Intervenor–Defendants–Appellants/Cross–Appellees Pacific Coast Federation of Fisherman's Associations, Institute for Fisheries Research, The Bay Institute, California Trout, Friends of the River, Northern California Counsel of the Federation of Fly Fishers, San Francisco Baykeeper, Sacramento River Preservation Trust, Winnemem Wintu Tribe.
Katherine S. Poole (argued) and Douglas A. Obegi, San...