California Native American tribe sues Biden admin, says contractors owe $340M in damages

A Native American tribe based in northwestern California filed a lawsuit against the Biden administration Monday, alleging that contractors owe millions in restoration efforts for a decimated river. 

In its lawsuit, the Hoopa Valley Tribe, alleges that the U.S. Department of the Interior has failed to follow laws requiring contractors to pay money towards habitat restoration projects in exchange for use of the water. It says those contacts owe $340 million for environmental restoration work along the Trinity River, 12 miles of which flow through the tribe’s reservation in northern California. 

For more than 60 years, the river has been a major source of water for local dams, reservoirs, and canals that send water south to farmers who harvest fruits, nuts, and other crops. 

The Hoopa Valley tribe alleges that the federal government has failed to consult with them over the years on matters related to the river. Updated laws governing the use of the water in the early 90s gave the tribe some power to concur over changes to river flows. However, an Obama-era law mandated that temporary water contracts could become permanent.