Mealey's (September 9, 2015, 11:52 AM EDT) -- SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Five California state court lawsuits in which water districts challenge the state water board’s authority to suspend or curtail water rights during the drought emergency were centralized Aug. 10 in Alameda County (California Water Curtailment Cases, Judicial Council Coordination Proceeding No. 4838, Calif. Super., Alameda Co.).

(Coordination order in Section F. Document #95-150910-023R.)

After the State Water Resources Control Board in July issued water curtailment notices to water rights holders, several water districts sued the board in five state courts, challenging the board’s...