Rewatering the San Joaquin River: A Summary of the Friant Dam Litigation.

This article summarizes litigation involving the restoration of water to the San Joaquin River at the Friant Dam in California. According to the author, the operation of the Friant Dam is partly responsible for the decline in Chinook salmon downstream from the water diversion. He argues that 60 miles of the river is nearly dry except for rare flood conditions. Anadromous salmon are unable to reach their spawning grounds because the water is shallow, and the habitat has been changed by warmer water and more silt and vegetation. The National Resources Defense Council and the Bureau of Reclamation approved a settlement to restore water to the river.