San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority v. United States Department of the Interior
Opinion
lead Opinion
Wanger, J.
ORDER RE MOTION TO FILE A SUPPLEMENTAL COMPLAINT (DOC. 623)
I. INTRODUCTION
Plaintiffs San Luis & Delta Mendota Water Authority and Westlands Water District joined by Plaintiff-in-intervention Stockton East Water District (collectively the “water authority plaintiffs”) move for leave to file a supplemental complaint concerning Interior’s accounting of the 2004 water year. (Doc. 632, Motion; Doc. 634, Joinder.) The United States Department of the Interior, et al., (the “federal defendants”) oppose. (Doc. 629.) Plaintiffs in the consolidated action, the Bay Institute of San Francisco, Environmental Defense, and Save San Francisco Bay Association (collectively the “environmental plaintiffs”), also oppose. (Doc. 630.)
II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND
This case has a long and complicated history that is set forth in great detail in several prior orders. For purposes of this motion, a review of the pertinent holdings of the district court and the Ninth Circuit, along with a summary of recent events suffices.
The water authority plaintiffs’ filed their currently operative second amended complaint on April 5, 2001. (Doc. 395) 1 The first cause of action alleged:
(Doc. 395 at H 24-28.) The…