San Luis Obispo Ordered to Increase Water Flows from Lopez Dam

San Luis Obispo, Calif., must follow certain compliance measures a federal judge ordered after fing that a dam infrastructure repair project would likely harm endangered species.

The county must develop a flow release and habitat restoration plan connected to the Lopez Dam to protect the South-Central California Coast Steelhead, a threatened trout species, according to an order issued Monday by the US District Court for the Central District of California.

Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett issued the order after granting environmental groups’ motion for preliminary injunction last month. San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper, Los Padres Forestwatch, and others argued the dam altered ...