Plans To Expand UC Santa Cruz Hit Snag

SANTA CRUZ (CBS / AP) -- The University of California, Santa Cruz's expansion plans have suffered a setback over concerns about water.

A state appeals court ruled this week that the City of Santa Cruz failed to fully study the plans' effect on its water supply.

The city provides water to the campus and has acknowledged that its current water resources would be inadequate to meet the expanded campus' needs in the event of a drought.

In its 3-0 ruling, the Sixth District Court of Appeal said the city's environmental review should have considered a smaller expansion or one that would use less water.

Sabrina Teller, a lawyer for the city, told the San Francisco Chronicle that meeting the court's requirement would not be insurmountable.

UC Santa Cruz's proposed North Campus would increase its 17,000-student enrollment by about 2,500 students.

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