In a significant ruling on May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court delivered a decision that carries profound implications for the Clean Water Act, the landmark water pollution law.
What does this mean for the Yuba watershed?
The United States Supreme Court has declined to hear an appeal regarding the California State Water Resources Control Board’s authority to set mandatory conditions in the new operating licenses for four hydroelectric projects.
On May 16th , Governor Newsom, along with Yuba Water Agency, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) held a press conference announcing efforts to build a fish passage canal around Daguerre Point Dam and begin a reintroduction trap-and-haul effort around New Bullards Bar Dam. The term sheet released by CDFW makes it clear that this agreement is “… a non-binding framework for developing a Settlement Agreement…”
The South Yuba River Citizens League’s (SYRCL) reaction to the announcement is mixed.
SYRCL applauds the Planning Commission for its unanimous vote to not recommend the reopening of the Idaho-Maryland Mine and, more importantly, not recommend certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report. However, the fight against the mine is not over.
The Nevada County Board of Supervisors will consider the Planning Commission’s recommendation no earlier than August 2023.