California Groundwater Pumping Project Can Proceed, for Now

Environmental groups failed to justify blocking the federal government from funding groundwater pumping in the Sacramento River Valley pending a preliminary injunction hearing, a federal court in California ruled.

There’s no evidence that pumping will immediately occur without injunctive relief, according to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. And even if it did happen, there’s no evidence irreparable harm would occur between that time and the preliminary injunction hearing Thursday, Judge William B. Shubb said Tuesday.

AquAlliance, the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, and California Water Impact Network argue the project will damage properties, deplete aquifers, and ...