Wcb

This case addresses the California Wildlife Conservation Board’s (WCB) approval of a project involving the conversion of agricultural land into wildlife habitat as categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and the WCB appeal the grant of a peremptory writ of mandate directing them, inter alia, to set aside the decision finding the Traynham Ranch project (Project) to be exempt from CEQA. The DFG and WCB also appeal the award of attorney fees to the County of Colusa (County) and to petitioners California Farm Bureau Federation, Colusa County Farm Bureau (together the Farm Bureau) and intervenor Richard Mora. We shall affirm the trial court’s grant of a peremptory writ of mandate and the orders granting attorney fees.

FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND

In 2001, the DFG through the WCB (together the State Agencies) negotiated the purchase of a conservation easement on 235 acres of farmland (the property) owned by Leroy V. Traynham III (Traynham) in the County as the first acquisition/restoration project under the North Central Valley, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program. WCB as the lead…