California water officials mostly cleared in drought-related water rights saga
Three California companies pushing back against state emergency regulations and water curtailment orders saw most of their claims dismissed by a federal judge Tuesday. Los Molinos Mutual Water Company, Stanford Vina Ranch Irrigation Company and Peyton Pacific Properties LLC challenged the restrictions, which were in response to 2021 and 2022 drought conditions. … However [U.S. District Court Judge Dale Drozd] kept intact the Endangered Species Act claim against water board members and staff while tossing all claims against the [state] Department of Fish and Wildlife.