SCOPE
Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment v. County of Los Angeles
Opinion
Opinion
Gilbert, J.
An environmental impact report for a housing development must contain a thorough analysis that reasonably informs the reader of the amount of water available. The dream of water entitlements from the incomplete State Water Project (SWP) is no substitute for the reality of actual water the SWP can deliver.
This appeal arises under the California Environmental Quality Act. (Pub. Resources Code, § 21000 et seq., hereafter CEQA.) The Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment and the Friends of the Santa Clara River (hereafter collectively SCOPE) petitioned the trial court for a writ of mandate. The petition requested that the court order the County of Los Angeles (hereafter County) to vacate its resolution certifying the final environmental impact report (EIR) and related resolutions approving the West Creek development project.
The trial court denied SCOPE’S petition. We conclude the County erred in approving the EIR because the. water service portion of the EIR is inadequate. We reverse.
Facts
West Creek is a proposed mixed residential and commercial development in the Santa Clarita Valley area of northern Los Angeles County. The project includes 2,54,5…