LOS ANGELES — The San Diego County Water Authority prevailed in a lawsuit targeting, among other things, the $1 billion Carlsbad desalination plant expected to begin operations later this year.
The San Diego Coastkeeper filed a lawsuit in March 2014 challenging adoption of the water authority's water supply plan, formally known as the Regional Water Facilities Optimization and Master Plan Update.
The water supply plan explores the region's needs and options to address water supply. It also sets precedent for related decisions through 2035.
San Diego Superior Court Judge Gregory Pollack issued a written ruling in the water authority's favor on July 30 finding that the water authority "followed all applicable laws and procedures" when the agency adopted the plan last year.
The ruling "confirms that the water authority's board of directors properly considered all relevant factors in approving the master plan update and climate action plan," said Bob Yamada, director of water resources.
The Water Authority approved the plan March 2014 and its accompanying Supplemental Program Environmental Impact Report and Climate Action Plan. Coastkeepers filed the lawsuit challenging the plan soon after.
The clean water advocacy group wanted the Water Authority to prioritize and incentivize conservation and recycling over what it sees as more environmentally harmful and costly methods of providing water to San Diegans.
Water authority officials took the ruling as a mandate for the authority's water supply decisions including its decision to pursue the Carlsbad desalination project.
"Although (Coastkeeper) states that its argument is directed at the 2013 SPEIR, the state of the record indicates that it is really taking issue with the water supply decisions the water authority made via the 2003 master plan," Pollack wrote in his decision.
The master plan and Climate Action Plan serve as the authority's roadmap through 2035 for future capital projects and as the authority's response to climate change, Yamada said.
"We're disappointed in this decision that allows the Water Authority to prioritize costly, environmentally-damaging water supply options over efficient sources like conservation and water recycling," said Everett DeLano, the attorney representing San Diego Coastkeeper.
