2009 has the potential to be one of California’s most severe drought
years on record. In addition, ongoing concerns regarding the Sacramento-
San Joaquin Delta have limited the ability to move water from
north to south in the state. Combined, the two conditions may result
in significant water shortages to urban and agricultural water users.
Water transfers and the development of new water storage will play a
critical role in meeting the near-term and long-term water supply needs
in the state. A faculty of recognized leaders in the world of water
rights, water markets, and policy will guide you through the issues
affecting water reallocation and development.
This seminar is especially designed for attorneys and legal staff, state
and municipal officials, land owners, farmers and ranchers, environmentalists,
utility managers, planners, real estate developers and professionals
– and everyone with a stake in our precious water supply.
Thank you to the Seminar Sponsor
WestWater Research.
Seminar Sponsor:
Featuring Speakers From:
WestWater Research LLC
San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority
Baker Manock & Jensen PC
Ellison Schneider & Harris LLP
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP
CA Dept. of Water Resources
Metropolitan Water Dept. of S. CA
The Nature Conservancy
MWH Americas, Inc.
Bureau of Reclamation
Somach Simmons & Dunn
Hanson Bridgett LLP
Western Development & Storage
Who Should Attend:
Attorneys
State and Municipal Officials
Land Owners
Farmers/Ranchers
Environmentalists
Utility Managers
Planners
Real Estate Developers and Professionals
Thursday, Mar. 5, 2009
| 8:30 | Introduction and Overview |
WestWater Research LLC
| 8:35 | Water Management and Reallocation in
California |
Pre-1917 Water Rights; Riparian Water
Rights
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP
| 9:05 | Water Transfers as a Drought Response
Strategy |
• California Drought Water Bank
The California Department of Water
Resources will be implementing a Drought
Water Bank in 2009 due to
ongoing
drought conditions in the state. The Water
Bank will primarily be a mechanism to
improve the
efficiency of water trades.
The Bank has not operated since the last
sustained drought in 1992.
California Department of Water Resources
• Transfers from Groundwater Storage Banks
There are a variety of operating and
Proposed Groundwater Storage Banks in
California that provide an
opportunity to
supply Southern California water users
with water during Drought Periods. More
groundwater
storage banks are being proposed.
MWH Americas, Inc.
Western Development and Storage
Recent federal court decisions have reduced
the amount of water that can be pumped
from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to
Southern California water users by 20 to 30%
in order to protect listed fish species. The
pumping constraints are expected to continue.
This, combined with the potential for
drought conditions may cause water transfer
prices to reach unprecedented levels.
• Environmental Perspective
Prog. Mgr., California Water Prog.
The Nature Conservancy
• Municipal Perspective
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
• Agricultural Perspective
San Luis & Delta Mendoza Water District
| 1:00 | Surface Storage Projects |
There are five ongoing federal/state studies
of potential new surface water storage facilities.
Feasibility studies for these projects are
scheduled for completion this winter.
California Department of Water Resources
| 1:30 | The Vulnerability of Documentation of
Water Rights Transfers |
Hanson Bridgett LLP
| 2:00 | Area of Origin Water Rights |
Legal premise that may limit the amount of
water that can be exported from a region.
Somach Simmons & Dunn
| 2:30 | Groundwater Export Limits |
County level ordinances that limit the amount
of groundwater that can be exported to outof-
county users.
Baker Manock & Jensen PC
| 3:15 | Water Right Leases and Purchases |
Summary of past water right market activity
and prices. Projected activity and prices
under drought conditions and with Delta
pumping constraints.
WestWater Research LLC
| 3:45 | Environmental Water Acquisition Efforts |
• Environmental Water Account, Reclamation's Central Valley Project Improvement Act's (CVPIA) Water Acquisition Program
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• Section 1707 Process and Challenges
Ellison Schneider & Harris LLP
| 4:45 | Questions and Answers |
Harry Seely, Program Co-Chair, a principal with WestWater Research LLC, has 14 years experience in agricultural and
water resource economic analysis. Over the last decade, he has applied mathematical programming and econometric analysis techniques to estimate the value of water.
Ara Azhderian has served as a Water Policy Administrator at the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority since 2004. Prior to that, he was a Water Master with the San Luis Water District, and a Special Projects Administrator with Three Star Farms.
Christopher L. Campbell, an attorney with Baker Manock & Jensen PC and Chairman of the firm’s Natural Resources,
Financial Institutions, and Creditors Rights Practice Groups,
focuses on reclamation and water law, water transfers,
agricultural finance, planning, zoning and development matters.
Teresa W. Chan is an attorney with Ellison Schneider & Harris LLP. Her practice focuses on California water rights law
and all related areas of natural resources law, including water
quality, endangered species, and environmental law.
Morgan R. Evans, an attorney with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP and a member of the firm’s Water & Public Lands
Group, focuses on water rights transactions, litigation, groundwater
adjudications, environmental compliance, water rights
licensing, permitting, and climate change and water policy issues.
Teresa Geimer serves as the Chief of Water Supply and
Transfers Branch with the California Department of Water Resources. Her experience in the water resources engineering
industry includes investigating set back levees, designing facilities,
tracking water deliveries and negotiating contracts.
Steven Hirsch is a Project Manager for the Metropolitan Water Department of Southern California. In the past, he worked as a Senior Resource Specialist and as a Project Manager for the Central Valley Project Improvement Act and Category III Program Initiatives.
Campbell Ingram is Program Manager of the California Water Program with The Nature Conservancy (TNC). TNC is the leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people.
Christian E. Petersen, PG, CHG, a principal hydrogeologist and project manager at MWH Americas, Inc., has 19 years experience and currently serves as MWH’s Water Resource Practice Leader for the southwest U.S.
Stephen S. Roberts, manager of the Surface Storage Branch
with the California Department of Water Resources, has nearly
30 years of experience in planning, design and construction of
water and power facilities in California. He spent several years
as the State’s Manager, overseeing CALFED Surface Storage
feasibility studies and environmental investigations.
Tim Rust is a Natural Resource Specialist - Program Manager with the United States Department of the Interior, Mid-Pacific Region, Sacramento, California. His experience in water resources management includes managing and implementing programs and projects that seek to balance many competing and often conflicting urban, agricultural and environmental needs.
Jonathan R. Schutz is an attorney with Somach Simmons & Dunn. His practice emphasizes all areas of water law, including water rights and water quality. He has published articles on section 404 of the Clean Water Act and on water rights issues under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Michael J. Van Zandt is a partner with Hanson Bridgett LLP. He has extensive experience in water rights adjudications,
acquisitions, transfers, defense of water rights, hazardous waste
and wetlands laws, NEPA, CEQA, Superfund, Clean Air, Clean
Water, Safe Drinking Water, and Endangered Species Acts.
Andrew J. Werner, a Vice President with Western Development and Storage, has worked in the western U.S. water arena for 14 years as a hydrogeologist, market analyst and, for the past seven years, as a water
project developer in California.
This seminar is approved for the following homestudy credits:
The State Bar of California
6.75 General CLE Credits - The Seminar Group is an approved MCLE provider
If you are purchasing only certain portions of the seminar then the full credit amount does not apply. If you need assistance calculating the number of credits available for a certain session please call our office at 800-574-4852. If this seminar has not been approved for the credits you require, let us know and we will look into it for you.
Information on Continuing Education Credits
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