Debris washed down the San Gabriel River covers the sand in Seal Beach after a rainstorm. How to regulate storm water and urban runoff flowing into the region’s waterways continues to be a contentious issue. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)Los Angeles County got a reprieve in an ongoing dispute over who is responsible for pollution from storm water when theU.S. Supreme Court overturned a ruling won by environmentalists.

However, the court's 9-0 decision Tuesday did not deal with the larger question of how to regulate storm water and urban runoff flowing into the region's waterways.

Gary Hildebrand, assistant deputy director of the county's Department of Public Works, said the court's decision "validates the approach the flood control district has been taking to deal with water management."

The ruling allows the district to move forward with updated storm water regulations that the regional water board put in place in November, he said.

Read more at the LA Times