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Reyes has criticized IID officials for doing “backroom deals” and “leaving the community out.”

He said he hopes the state and the IID will accelerate the work of building wetlands to protect threatened birds and fish species, and to ensure that additional dust doesn’t worsen air quality in nearby communities.

She said the IID “has a responsibility to mitigate those additional impacts.”

Despite the legal challenge, IID officials said they complied with the law when they carried out an environmental assessment and launched the conservation effort, which they call a deficit-irrigation program.

Tina Shields, the IID’s water manager, said the district’s leaders hope the lawsuit doesn’t delay the transfer of $170 million to the state this year.