After decades of fighting in and out of the courts, water is finally being restored to the Trinity River in northern California.

Since 1963, when two dams were built, up to 90 percent of the Trinity's flows have been diverted. This harmed the Hoopa Valley Tribe, which saw runs of fish dwindle due to lack of water.

The tribe celebrated when former Interior secretary Bruce Babbitt in December 2000 ordered the flows to be restored. But the decision was held up in the courts until earlier this year, when a ruling favoring the tribe was not taken to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Now, the Bureau of Reclamation is undertaking a project to restore the water. The tribe, however, still says there isn't enough money to do the job.

Get the Story:
A River Rises to Reclaim Its Past (The Los Angeles Times 5/16)
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Court Decision:
WESTLANDS WATER DIST V HOOPA VALLEY TRIBE (July 13, 2004)

Relevant Links:
Hoopa Valley Tribe - http://www.hoopa-nsn.gov
Wetlands Water District - http://www.westlandswater.org/wwd/default2.asp
Northern California Power Agency - http://www.ncpa.com

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