"The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday refused to review a long-running Los Angeles County case, handing a victory to environmentalists in a battle over polluted urban runoff that fouls Southern California's coastal waters.

The justices let stand a federal appeals court ruling that held the Los Angeles County Flood Control District and the county liable for storm water pollution flowing into the Los Angeles and San Gabriel rivers from the region's sprawling storm drain system.

The high court's action does not end the case, however, which will now go back to the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles for further proceedings."

Bettina Boxall reports for the Los Angeles Times May 5, 2014. [2]