<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><head><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml><o:OfficeDocumentSettings><o:AllowPNG/><o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch></o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--></head><body><div class="ydp18cf78d7yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family: garamond, new york, times, serif; font-size: 16px;"><div><div><div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">It's not over, just a new tact by Westlands.</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false">TS</div><div dir="ltr" data-setdir="false"><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><strong>Westlands backs off Shasta Dam environmental permitting work</strong><u></u><u></u></p><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">By Debra Kahn<u></u><u></u></p><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">09/30/2019 07:30 PM EDT<u></u><u></u></p><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">The Central Valley water agency that has been working to expand Shasta Dam in defiance of state officials today announced it would stop its work under the California Environmental Quality Act.<u></u><u></u></p><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Westlands Water District, the largest agricultural water district in the country, said it would instead perform a separate analysis of whether raising the Northern California dam would harm the McCloud River upstream, which could eventually lead to resuming environmental permitting work. <u></u><u></u></p><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">A Shasta Superior Court judge <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__subscriber.politicopro.com_article_2019_07_31_judge-2Dwestlands-2Dmust-2Dstop-2Dwork-2Don-2Dshasta-2Ddam-2Draise-2D9322876&d=DwMDaQ&c=uASjV29gZuJt5_5J5CPRuQ&r=hjqGTFAavvmKsZ5qxMX7AfDuItIj6Uk3B9u-H-gL9f0&m=fTXx8HHoYZMZy-pmeJd3OCVaoq1YIi_0kCJ2-mSFJBc&s=sZNllftggTPBg9clPzVqMcc3QMazpuE7dC5c3vA8wpE&e=" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u%3Dhttps-3A__subscriber.politicopro.com_article_2019_07_31_judge-2Dwestlands-2Dmust-2Dstop-2Dwork-2Don-2Dshasta-2Ddam-2Draise-2D9322876%26d%3DDwMDaQ%26c%3DuASjV29gZuJt5_5J5CPRuQ%26r%3DhjqGTFAavvmKsZ5qxMX7AfDuItIj6Uk3B9u-H-gL9f0%26m%3DfTXx8HHoYZMZy-pmeJd3OCVaoq1YIi_0kCJ2-mSFJBc%26s%3DsZNllftggTPBg9clPzVqMcc3QMazpuE7dC5c3vA8wpE%26e%3D&source=gmail&ust=1569975710242000&usg=AFQjCNEv7EKLX-FjhitWu7KHwXswEtiWwA" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_0181950457">ruled </a>in August that Westlands had to stop its CEQA work after Attorney General Xavier Becerra accused the water district of violating the state's Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by planning to interfere with the McCloud, which is upstream of the dam and would be inundated under a plan by Westlands and the Bureau of Reclamation to raise the dam by 18.5 feet.<u></u><u></u></p><div><br></div><div id="ydpe23cd34benhancr_card_0181950457" class="ydpe23cd34byahoo-link-enhancr-card ydpe23cd34byahoo-link-enhancr-not-allow-cover ydpe23cd34bymail-preserve-class ydpe23cd34bymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__subscriber.politicopro.com_article_2019_07_31_judge-2Dwestlands-2Dmust-2Dstop-2Dwork-2Don-2Dshasta-2Ddam-2Draise-2D9322876&d=DwMDaQ&c=uASjV29gZuJt5_5J5CPRuQ&r=hjqGTFAavvmKsZ5qxMX7AfDuItIj6Uk3B9u-H-gL9f0&m=fTXx8HHoYZMZy-pmeJd3OCVaoq1YIi_0kCJ2-mSFJBc&s=sZNllftggTPBg9clPzVqMcc3QMazpuE7dC5c3vA8wpE&e=" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__subscriber.politicopro.com_article_2019_07_31_judge-2Dwestlands-2Dmust-2Dstop-2Dwork-2Don-2Dshasta-2Ddam-2Draise-2D9322876&d=DwMDaQ&c=uASjV29gZuJt5_5J5CPRuQ&r=hjqGTFAavvmKsZ5qxMX7AfDuItIj6Uk3B9u-H-gL9f0&m=fTXx8HHoYZMZy-pmeJd3OCVaoq1YIi_0kCJ2-mSFJBc&s=sZNllftggTPBg9clPzVqMcc3QMazpuE7dC5c3vA8wpE&e=" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydpe23cd34byahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydpe23cd34bcard-wrapper ydpe23cd34byahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydpe23cd34bcard ydpe23cd34byahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" class="ydpe23cd34bcard-info ydpe23cd34byahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydpe23cd34bcard-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Leading Source of Policy News Analysis & Coverage | POLITICO Pro</h2><p class="ydpe23cd34bcard-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 155, 167);"></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Westlands General Manager Tom Birmingham said that the new analysis would comply with Becerra's argument in court that the water district could properly "carry out such a study in the abstract, unconnected to any specific project planning efforts."<u></u><u></u></p><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">"We recognize the reality that because of his action, our ongoing CEQA process is not going to be completed, and we are stepping back to do the analysis that the attorney general has suggested that we should have done before we initiated the CEQA process," he said.<u></u><u></u></p><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Birmingham also pointed out that the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act doesn't explicitly prohibit state agencies from raising Shasta. It says that they can't participate in activities that have "an adverse effect on the free-flowing condition of the McCloud River, or on its wild trout fishery." <u></u><u></u></p><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">"It's just been said for such a long time by so many people that it's been accepted as fact," he said.<u></u><u></u></p><p style="font-size: 12pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Times New Roman, serif; color: rgb(34, 34, 34);"><i>To view online</i>:<br><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__subscriber.politicopro.com_states_california_whiteboard_2019_09_30_westlands-2Dbacks-2Doff-2Dshasta-2Ddam-2Denvironmental-2Dpermitting-2Dwork-2D9404004&d=DwMDaQ&c=uASjV29gZuJt5_5J5CPRuQ&r=hjqGTFAavvmKsZ5qxMX7AfDuItIj6Uk3B9u-H-gL9f0&m=fTXx8HHoYZMZy-pmeJd3OCVaoq1YIi_0kCJ2-mSFJBc&s=7apK1dWIKEhWZ_CUf11OizLR_G5P7SHsNrqj_xg9kG0&e=" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u%3Dhttps-3A__subscriber.politicopro.com_states_california_whiteboard_2019_09_30_westlands-2Dbacks-2Doff-2Dshasta-2Ddam-2Denvironmental-2Dpermitting-2Dwork-2D9404004%26d%3DDwMDaQ%26c%3DuASjV29gZuJt5_5J5CPRuQ%26r%3DhjqGTFAavvmKsZ5qxMX7AfDuItIj6Uk3B9u-H-gL9f0%26m%3DfTXx8HHoYZMZy-pmeJd3OCVaoq1YIi_0kCJ2-mSFJBc%26s%3D7apK1dWIKEhWZ_CUf11OizLR_G5P7SHsNrqj_xg9kG0%26e%3D&source=gmail&ust=1569975710242000&usg=AFQjCNEYiBq_n2v99olz8Hl9k7tJ6nMsSg" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" class="enhancr_card_0484923106">https://subscriber.politicopro.com/states/california/whiteboard/2019/09/30/westlands-backs-off-shasta-dam-environmental-permitting-work-9404004</a><u></u><u></u></p><div><br></div><div id="ydp3529b433enhancr_card_0484923106" class="ydp3529b433yahoo-link-enhancr-card ydp3529b433yahoo-link-enhancr-not-allow-cover ydp3529b433ymail-preserve-class ydp3529b433ymail-preserve-style" style="max-width:400px;font-family:Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" data-url="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__subscriber.politicopro.com_states_california_whiteboard_2019_09_30_westlands-2Dbacks-2Doff-2Dshasta-2Ddam-2Denvironmental-2Dpermitting-2Dwork-2D9404004&d=DwMDaQ&c=uASjV29gZuJt5_5J5CPRuQ&r=hjqGTFAavvmKsZ5qxMX7AfDuItIj6Uk3B9u-H-gL9f0&m=fTXx8HHoYZMZy-pmeJd3OCVaoq1YIi_0kCJ2-mSFJBc&s=7apK1dWIKEhWZ_CUf11OizLR_G5P7SHsNrqj_xg9kG0&e=" data-type="YENHANCER" data-size="MEDIUM" contenteditable="false"><a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__subscriber.politicopro.com_states_california_whiteboard_2019_09_30_westlands-2Dbacks-2Doff-2Dshasta-2Ddam-2Denvironmental-2Dpermitting-2Dwork-2D9404004&d=DwMDaQ&c=uASjV29gZuJt5_5J5CPRuQ&r=hjqGTFAavvmKsZ5qxMX7AfDuItIj6Uk3B9u-H-gL9f0&m=fTXx8HHoYZMZy-pmeJd3OCVaoq1YIi_0kCJ2-mSFJBc&s=7apK1dWIKEhWZ_CUf11OizLR_G5P7SHsNrqj_xg9kG0&e=" style="text-decoration:none !important;color:#000 !important" class="ydp3529b433yahoo-enhancr-cardlink" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><table border="0" class="ydp3529b433card-wrapper ydp3529b433yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="max-width:400px"><tbody><tr><td width="400"><table border="0" class="ydp3529b433card ydp3529b433yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" style="max-width:400px;border-width:1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgb(224, 228, 233);border-radius:2px"><tbody><tr><td><table border="0" class="ydp3529b433card-info ydp3529b433yahoo-ignore-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="background:#fff;position:relative;z-index:2;width:100%;max-width:400px;border-radius:0 0 2px 2px;border-top:1px solid rgb(224, 228, 233)"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color:#ffffff;padding:16px 0 16px 12px;vertical-align:top;border-radius:0 0 0 2px"></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding:12px 24px 16px 12px;width:99%;font-family:Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;border-radius:0 0 2px 0"><h2 class="ydp3529b433card-title" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px 0px 6px; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Segoe UI, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; color: rgb(38, 40, 42);">Leading Source of Policy News Analysis & Coverage | POLITICO Pro</h2><p class="ydp3529b433card-description" style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; color: rgb(151, 155, 167);"></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></a></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br class="ydp6a39a3d9Apple-interchange-newline" style="font-family: -webkit-standard;"></div></div></div><div><br></div><div class="ydp18cf78d7signature">Tom Stokely <div>Salmon and Water Policy Consultant</div><div>530-524-0315 </div><div>tstokely@att.net </div><div><br></div></div></div></div></body></html>