ELR Citation: 55 ELR 20157
No(s). 2:20-cv-09965-AH-(ASx) (C.D. Cal. Nov 20, 2025) (Hwang, J.)

A district court granted summary judgment for an environmental group in an ESA citizen suit challenging the California Department of Parks and Recreation's authorization of off-highway vehicle use and vehicular camping at Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. The group argued the Department's authorization of motorized vehicle activity at the recreation area, which resulted in the take of federally protected western snowy plovers, violated the ESA. The Department largely did not dispute the examples of take provided by the group, nor did it dispute that it had authorized motorized vehicle use at the recreation area resulting in the take of snowy plovers, or that additional take was reasonably and foreseeably likely to occur in the future. In light of these undisputed facts and the Department's non-opposition on the liability issue, the court granted the group's motion for summary judgment.