The judgment is a victory for the Wildlife Equity Institute and other environmental organizations, which sued the city in 2011 for violations of the federal Endangered Species Act. The nonprofit claimed that the city was killing two protected species, the San Francisco Garter Snake and the California Red-Legged Frog, by draining the 18-hole Sharp Park Golf Course throughout the years.

U.S. District judge Susan Illston denied the city's defense that it wasn't killing the animals, noting that "as a result of construction activities and golf course maintenance operations, all Frogs, all Snakes, and 130 egg masses will be subject to incidental take." As a result, Illston ordered San Francisco to pay $386,000 that will go toward paying the institute's attorney fees.