California Environmental Litigation Fund

“Part ii line 28: exempt purpose achievements:celp represented sierra club in a prolonged administrative hearing involving blue tritons diversion of water for water bottling purposes in strawberry creek in the santa ana river watershed in southern california. Celps attorney presented evidence during the lengthy hearing and prepared briefs,together with an attorney with the center for biological diversity. This april a hearing officer for the board issued an opinion recommending to the board that the blue triton diversions be cut in half. If this draft opinion is accepted by the board, there will be benefits to the dewatered strawberry creek,as some greater flows will be expected to be in the river, allowing growth of riparian vegetation and restoration of the fishery. Over the last few years celp has represented the sierra club in litigation against los angeles, involving las decision in 2018 to not provide water to ranchers in mono county who managed their ranches in an ecologically sensitive manner. The main issue was that the cutbacks in water deliveries were made without environmental review under the california environmental quality act. In august of last year, the court of appeals agreed with sierra club and the county that before offering to the ranchers zero water leases environmental review under ceqa would have to be performed. The court recognized that zero water leases to the ranchers would have serious environmental effects with respect to its effect on beneficial environmental activities performed by the ranchers. ---- for the last year celp has represented citizen environmental groups in inyo and mono county who believe the city has failed to perform mitigation required by a 1995 eir to mitigate damage done in the owens valley through the implementation of an augmented groundwater pumping program initiated in 1972. With the assistance of celp requests for documents under the california public records act have been made. The documents received are being reviewed and the citizen groups have requested legal guidance from celp as to their legal remedies for completion of mitigation for the augmented groundwater pumping program, which caused considerable adverse effects on owens valley vegetation and even denuded certain areas of vegetation. ---- for the last two years celp has represented sierra club in its opposition to a construction vehicle machinery yard proposed in the big sur coastal area. This proposed project is not consistent with the lup for the area and would result in the destruction of environmentally sensitive habitat on the premises. An appeal has been filed by sierra club with the california coastal commission in connection with approval of the project by the monterey county board of supervisors. Celp will prepare briefs in connection with this appeal and during the last few years has been advising opponents of the project with respect to their legal rights.”

“Description amountbank fee credit 12”

“Description amountattorney general 75supplies 104telephone 586office expenses 543legal fee 89”

“Description amountearnings adjustment on investments (1,576)”