Find Lawyers in California, United States for Water Law
Practice Area Overview
Water use law practice starts at the fundamental level with the rights of owners of property abutting a surface water, i.e. riparian owners, to use water without unreasonably interfering with the rights of other riparian owners. This can involve both withdrawing and using water or diverting the flow of surface water. The withdrawal of groundwater is also regulated where necessary to avoid overuse of aquifers. A body of state statutes and regulations regulates certain uses of water, such as transfers of water from one river basin to another, withdrawal of groundwater from overused aquifers, impoundment of water, and construction of wells. In addition, the Federal Safe Water Drinking Act regulates the treatment of water by water supply systems.
Water pollution law practice is an extraordinarily complex area of common law and regulatory programs. It can involve areas of common law such as nuisance, trespass, and negligence, but more often it involves an interwoven and overlapping network of federal and state statutes and regulations. A partial list includes state laws regulating surface water discharges from point sources; sedimentation and erosion; stormwater runoff; land uses in nutrient-sensitive waters and water supply watersheds; and sources of groundwater pollution. Federal regulatory programs include regulation of wetlands and construction in navigable waters and establishment of total maximum daily loads in highly polluted surface water bodies.
Clients in this area of practice include local governments, utilities, private developers, and industries seeking to build or expand water supply and waste treatment facilities, or engaging in large land development projects involving wetlands, stormwater controls, and water-dependent uses such as docks and marinas.
Representation of such clients frequently involves compliance counseling to obtain agency permits, and sometimes includes administrative litigation when the agency denies approval or when another person challenges an approval. Water law practice also can involve litigation in court, sometimes in the form of appeals of agency decisions, penalties or orders and sometimes private party claims based on nuisance, negligence, trespass, interference with riparian rights, or citizens’ suits to address alleged violations of regulatory requirements.
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Cities
Ed Casey represents a variety of residential, retail and commercial developers in land use matters, including those arising under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). His practice encompasses every facet of the entitlement process, from pre-acquisition due diligence to permitting, and he has successfully prosecuted and defended CEQA and other land use lawsuits for a number of major development projects. Ed was listed in the 2015 and 2016 editions of The Best Lawyers in America &co...
Specialized California water law expertise. Trusted strategic advisor and project manager for complex water supply and infrastructure projects. Innovative problem solver for high-stakes water disputes. With more than 20 years of specialized expertise in water law, Stephanie Hastings has played a leading role in California’s most complex and precedent-setting water matters. She brings sophisticated legal skill and experience to the acquisition, maintenance and protection of water resourc...
Nearly 20 years of experience handling the most significant and complex water matters in California, Nevada and across the west. Leader in California groundwater management. Business-savvy approach to water strategy. Brad Herrema understands the vital role that water plays in any project. From the development of groundwater management strategies, to identifying opportunities for water investment, to securing recreational water supplies, his approach integrates each client’s unique busin...
Pragmatic water litigator and skilled negotiator. Nearly 30 years of water law experience. Plays a leading role in California’s most important water rights cases. Rob Saperstein is widely respected for his ability to optimize his client’s rights in groundwater, surface water and recycled water development and management. Public entity water suppliers and large landowners rely on his legal counsel to protect and maximize their water resources. Working in both transactional and liti...
Legendary water law practitioner with nearly 40 years of experience. Unmatched depth and diversity of water transactions. Handled the largest water transfer in United States’ history. Scott Slater is a best-in-class water rights transactional attorney and litigator delivering strategic solutions and securing reliable water supplies for his clients. His sophisticated understanding of both the legal challenges and potential business impacts and opportunities in securing, maintaining and t...
Leader in cannabis cultivation projects and co-chair of Cannabis & Industrial Hemp industry group. Works at the intersection of land use and water law. Santa Barbara office managing partner. Amy Steinfeld is a land use and water lawyer with a broad understanding of environmental issues and a passion for the cannabis industry. Operating in one of the most heavily regulated industries and states, her passion and genuine concern for her clients is critical to her success. Drawing on a substa...
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