Judge Wants Agreement on San Joaquin Flow

A federal judge on Monday gave farmers and environmentalists until the end of the month to reach an agreement that seeks to restore year-round water flows to parts of the San Joaquin River, negotiations aimed at bringing salmon runs back to one of California’s most important waterways.

Attorneys for both sides told U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton that they have resolved substantive issues to reverse the negative effects of a dam built nearly 60 years ago.

A final agreement remained elusive, however, as attorneys continued to negotiate details with state officials.