The U.S. Supreme Court will review two stormwater cases from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The first is the 9th Circuit Court’s decision to consider stormwater runoff channeled from logging roads as a point source, requiring a Clean Water Act permit. This overturns 30 years of regulatory status quo, as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency traditionally requires best management practices for nonpoint source pollution. Read more.

The Supreme Court will also review a case from the Los Angeles County Flood Control District. According to the 9th Circuit Court, Los Angeles County is responsible for the polluted runoff released into the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers from its storm drains. The Supreme Court will clarify whether water flowing from a man-made channel into a natural portion of the same river constitutes a “discharge” from an “outfall” subject to a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit.