Appeals Court Rules in Santa Maria Valley Groundwater Suit

Nossaman Partner Henry Weinstock is quoted in the San Luis Obispo Tribune article "Appeals court rules in Santa Maria Valley groundwater suit" about the recent Court of Appeal ruling upholding the majority of the initial Santa Clara County Superior Court decision in a Santa Maria Valley Groundwater Basin lawsuit.  Nossaman represented Arroyo Grande, Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and the Oceano Community Services District in the trial court.

The article notes that it is being called a victory for public agencies in southern San Luis Obispo County even though two groups of landowners prevailed on a few points.

The litigation initially began in 1997 to determine who has priority rights to pump groundwater from the Santa Maria basin. 

Mr. Weinstock is quoted as saying, "The court also rejected the appellants' challenges to the northern cities' water rights."  In doing so, the court upheld 100 percent of the cities' superior right to use about 7,300 acre-feet of water per year.