Water agencies to appeal decision favoring fish and denying 30% of region's fresh water

RIVERSIDE - A dozen Inland Empire water agencies will appeal a federal judge's decision freeing the Obama administration to expand the habitat of an endangered fish species -- to the potential detriment of land owners and cities that need the water, it was announced today.

In October, U.S. District Judge James V. Selina in Santa Ana sided with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and rejected a lawsuit challenging the federal government's plans to double the protected space set aside for the Santa Ana sucker.

The Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District, Riverside Public Util...