Attorney General Becerra Applauds Ruling Denying Westlands’ Request to Move Trial for Shasta Dam Lawsuit

SACRAMENTO – California Attorney General Xavier Becerra today issued the following statement after a Superior Court denied Westlands Water District’s (Westlands) attempt to change venue in the state’s lawsuit against Westlands for its unlawful participation in a project to raise the Shasta Dam. The court denied Westlands’ attempt to change venue from Shasta County to Fresno County, as all of the project impacts will occur in Shasta County.

“Westlands’ attempt to change the venue for this lawsuit was inappropriate, as Westlands’ unlawful project impacts the environment and cultural sites of communities within Shasta County,” said Attorney General Becerra. “This trial should be heard in a place accessible to those who are most impacted – the neighboring communities and the Winnemem Wintu tribe. We applaud this ruling which will keep the decision about the future of the Shasta Dam and the McCloud River in the county where it is located, not the home turf of the offending party, Westlands Water District.”

Attorney General Becerra filed the lawsuit on May 13, 2019 to block Westlands from taking an unlawful action to assist in the planning and construction of a project to raise the height of the Shasta Dam. The project poses significant adverse effects on the free-flowing condition of the McCloud River and on its wild trout fishery, both of which have special statutory protections under the California Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Act prohibits any agency of the State of California, such as Westlands, from assisting or cooperating with actions to raise the Shasta Dam. On June 13, 2019, Attorney General Becerra filed a motion for preliminary injunction to halt Westlands’ continued engagement in any action to plan or construct the project. The court will conduct a hearing on this motion in Shasta County Superior Court on July 29, 2019.