From the State Water Resources Control Board:
The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board or Board) Administrative Hearings Office (AHO) is conducting a public hearing about the Delta Conveyance Project. The purpose of the hearing is to gather evidence that the State Water Board will consider to determine whether to approve change petitions filed by the Department of Water Resources (DWR or Petitioner) to add two new points of diversion and rediversion to water right Permits 16478, 16479, 16481, and 16482 (Applications 5630, 14443, 14445A, and 17512, respectively) and, if so, terms and conditions the Board should include in the amended permits.
Procedural ruling on motion to stay
On January 28, Sacramento County et al., represented by the law firm of Somach Simmons & Dunn (SSD), filed a motion to stay this hearing pending resolution of a motion filed by DWR in Sacramento County Superior Court on January 23, to disqualify SSD as counsel based on an alleged conflict of interest in litigation pending before that court related to the Delta Conveyance Project. (2026-01-28 Sacramento County et al. Motion to Stay [SSD’s Motion to Stay].) SSD asserts that a stay in this hearing is necessary while DWR’s motion is pending to prevent harm to the parties it represents and other coordinating parties, protect public resources, and preserve the integrity of this hearing.
