In a victory for Yolo County, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled Wednesday that the United States does not have to allow the Upper Lake Band of Pomo Indians to build a casino in West Sacramento.

The tribe wanted to acquire 67 acres in West Sacramento for a Nevada-style casino/hotel complex.

In the ruling, U.S. District Judge Phyllis Hamilton held the tribe, which is in Lake County, to a 1983 court judgment, in which it never demanded nor intended to seek authority for placing property in Yolo County into trust for the tribe.

"We are absolutely delighted with today's ruling," Yolo County Supervisor Mike McGowan said Wednesday. "If the tribe wants to build a casino within the boundaries of its land in Lake County, that's one thing. But the tribe does not have ancestral roots in West Sacramento and has no business whatsoever buying land in West Sacramento for a casino.

"Imagine the precedent of allowing tribes to pick and choose favorable casino locations without reference to historic ties and without the ability of local governments to have input," he added.

McGowan also noted the significant impacts a casino would have on local services and schools.

In recent months, the tribe's efforts to build a West Sacramento casino have been opposed by Yolo County, the Washington Unified School District, the state, the U.S. Department of the Interior and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

In late December, the federal Department of the Interior turned down the tribe's attempt to take the West Sacramento property into trust, saying the tribe lacked legal authority.

In November, West Sacramento officials and tribe representatives signed a controversial agreement that would have generated millions of dollars a year for the city. The deal would have brought in more than $72 million over 12 years to help pay for municipal services to the project and would have provided thousands of jobs.

The agreement was contingent on the tribe winning approval to build a casino in the city of 35,000, which most observers agreed was a long shot.

At the time, attorney Howard Dickstein, who represents the Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians, said the West Sacramento agreement was "just a case of the city not wanting to be left out, should this long-shot win."

The Rumsey Band of Wintun Indians signed a multimillion-dollar agreement with Yolo County in October in connection with the construction of a hotel and an expanded casino between Brooks and Guinda in the Capay Valley.

Under that agreement, the Rumsey Band will pay more than $100 million to offset county costs of road improvements and other expenses caused the Cache Creek Casino expansion.

McGowan and Supervisor Lynnel Pollock make up a two-member special committee that focuses on tribal matters that impact the county.