Client Successes Sep 22, 2020
Nevada Water Rights Victory
BB&K Attorney Rod Walston Successful in Public Trust Doctrine Dispute in Nevada Supreme Court
Water Rights
Water is both a unique and an invaluable resource. With an ever-growing demand, and increasingly constrained supply, water rights, water supply and water management issues have become critical concerns across the United States. Resolving today’s water supply and water quality issues requires multi-disciplinary legal skills and solution-based approaches, assuring regulatory compliance and meeting the needs of both businesses and our nation’s growing population.
Best Best & Krieger LLP is a national leader in advising on and resolving water and environmental matters. As California’s largest full-service public agency law firm, we represent the entire spectrum of public agencies that deal with and are affected by water-related issues, including counties, cities, water suppliers, water supply management entities and special districts of every kind. We also represent private industry, advising businesses on modern-day water matters. We advise industries on issues ranging from development and land use, agriculture, manufacturing and processing, food and beverage and other concerns. Recognized for unmatched experience in water rights, water quality and related environmental fields, BB&K handles some of the most cutting-edge water-related issues impacting businesses.
Influencing Water Law & Policy
BB&K plays an integral role in shaping state and federal water law and policy. Whether in helping clients or through academic or professional associations, our lawyers are constantly involved in drafting and influencing water-related legislation, rules and regulations, and helping shape water resource policies. Our lawyers literally wrote the book on California water, an authoritative treatise covering the many complicated and inter-related issues of water rights, supply, quality and environmental law. We regularly teach college and professional courses, speak at conferences and publish articles and other literature on all aspects of water rights and water quality.
In addition, we serve as outside counsel to emerging nations, including South Africa, Malaysia, Namibia and St. Lucia, helping them develop water laws and policy to suit their specific and changing needs. Our depth and breadth of experience uniquely positions BB&K to advocate and problem solve for clients that are impacted by an ever-evolving web of water resource-related laws and regulations.
Unmatched Experience & Comprehensive Service
Additionally, we advise on and assist with:
- Navigating Sustainable Groundwater Management Act’s procedural requirements and assuring compliance
- Developing and implementing groundwater sustainability plans to protect and manage groundwater supplies on a sustainable basis
- Addressing water quality, Endangered Species Act, California Environmental Quality Act, and National Environmental Policy Act issues and other legal and regulatory requirements that come into play regarding water rights and supply
- Securing MS4 and construction stormwater permits
- Advocating regarding water policies and regulations
BB&K is a vigorous advocate for our water resource clients in state and federal courts across California and the West, and before the State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards and other administrative agencies. We represent clients in all types of water rights proceedings, enforcement actions, permit appeals, citizen suits and other litigation.
From interstate compacts to regional water supply adjudications to local proceedings and landowner disputes, when it comes to water matters, BB&K does it all and has seen it all.
- Litigating cases and negotiating key agreements involving major water bodies across California, including the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the Mojave River, Colorado River, Santa Ana River, Santa Margarita River, San Jacinto River, Ventura River and the Santa Ynez River.
- Adjudicating rights agreements for groundwater basins such as Santa Maria, Chino, Monterey, Sacramento, Antelope Valley, Warren Valley, Beaumont, Six Basins, Kern, San Joaquin, Coachella Valley and San Juan.
- Advising a multitude of public agency and private clients throughout California regarding legal requirements and implementation of SGMA.
- Advising on inter-related issues of water rights and state and federal Endangered Species Act requirements in various watersheds, such as the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, the Ventura River and the Santa Ynez River.
- Helping prepare and implement water supply planning documents for clients throughout California, including urban water management plans, water supply assessments, written verifications and water supply analyses under CEQA and NEPA.
- Serving as general counsel and city attorney and handling all water rights, supply, management, contractual, litigation and other matters for numerous water agencies and cities through California and the West.
Legal Alerts Sep 08, 2020
DWR Releases Draft Guidebook for 2020 Urban Water Management Plans
Stakeholders Have Until Sept. 21 to Review and Comment
Legal Alerts Sep 01, 2020
California Supreme Court Clarifies Ministerial vs. Discretionary Actions Under CEQA for Well Construction Permits
Decision in Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources v. County of Stanislaus Case
BB&K In the News May 20, 2020
Partner Michael Riddell Discusses Water Rights on Bloomberg Law Podcast
Roundtable Discussion Includes Litigation, SGMA, Conservation and More
BB&K Webinar May 12, 2020
Groundwater Sustainability Plans: What We Now Know and What is Yet to be Learned
BB&K Free Webinar
BB&K Webinar Feb 20, 2020
SGMA and Groundwater Rights: To Adjudicate or Not to Adjudicate
BB&K Free Webinar
Legal Alerts Jan 13, 2020
New Environmental and Telecommunications Laws
Part 3: California Laws Impacting Public Agencies for 2020
Press Releases Dec 17, 2019
Managing Partner Eric Garner Named Environmental Law MVP
Water Law Veteran Honored by Law360
Event Dec 03, 2019
ACWA 2019 Fall Conference & Exhibition
Association of California Water Agencies
BB&K Webinar Nov 08, 2019
Land Use Planning, Water Supply Planning and SGMA
BB&K Free Webinar
Legal Alerts Oct 16, 2019
Groundwater Recharge Projects Get Boost Under AB 658
New California Law to Help Achieve SGMA Requirements
Event Jul 25, 2019
SGMA’s Next Phase
Sustainable Groundwater Planning in California
Event Jun 20, 2019
2019 California Water Law & Policy MCLE Conference
Argent Communications Group
Legal Alerts May 02, 2019
SGMA: DWR Announces Draft Basin Prioritization
Comments Accepted Until May 30
Authored Articles & Publications Apr 30, 2019
"California Water," Third Edition
Eric Garner’s Updates to Text on Historical, Legal and Policy Issues Affecting California Water Use
Client Successes Apr 24, 2019
Tribe Lacks Standing in Water Suit
Representing Desert Water Agency, BB&K Attorneys Won Partial Dismissal of Case
Event Mar 25, 2019
2019 AEP California State Conference
Association of Environmental Professionals
Authored Articles & Publications Feb 28, 2019
Aquifer Management Success
In the Water International Journal, BB&K Managing Partner Eric Garner Identifies Factors for Groundwater Sustainability
Press Releases Feb 22, 2019
Groundwater Rights Trial Earns Top Verdict Honor from Daily Journal
BB&K Leads Water Agencies’ Defense
Event Feb 02, 2019
The Elephant in the Room: Adjudication Under SGMA
15th Annual California Water Law Symposium
Event Nov 27, 2018
ACWA 2018 Fall Conference & Exhibition
Association of California Water Agencies
Event Oct 08, 2018
IBA Annual Conference 2018
International Bar Association
Client Successes Oct 01, 2018
Groundwater Rights Jury Finds in Favor of Public Water Suppliers
BB&K Team Successfully Defends City in First-of-its-Kind Trial in California
Legal Alerts Aug 06, 2018
Groundwater Extraction Permits Not Subject to CEQA in San Luis Obispo County
Approval is a Ministerial Action, not subject to CEQA, Appellate Court Finds
Event Jun 13, 2018
Water Projects: How to Successfully Navigate a Growing But Complicated Process
American Water Works Association
Event Jun 11, 2018
California Water Law & Policy Conference
Argent Communications Group
Legal Alerts May 14, 2018
Administrative Hearing Office Proposed for State Water Resources Control Board
Proposed Legislation Would Provide for Efficient Hearings by Qualified Officers
Event May 08, 2018
ACWA CLE Workshop & Spring Conference
Association of California Water Agencies
Videos Apr 24, 2018
The Price of an Aging Infrastructure on the Environment
The Bill is Due: Now What? Infrastructure, Pensions and the Environment
Event Apr 17, 2018
Does a Federal Reserved Right to Surface Water Extend to Groundwater?
ABA Water Law Conference
Event Apr 17, 2018
Now Comes the Hard Part… Implementing Groundwater Management Under SGMA
UCLA IoES Water Resources Group and UCLA School of Law's Emmett Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
BB&K In the News Mar 22, 2018
Debating an Environmental Water Right in California
Managing Partner Eric L. Garner Interviewed by the Water Education Foundation
Legal Alerts Feb 23, 2018
California Water Board Lacks Jurisdiction to Curtail Water Use by Senior Water Rights Holders
Court Decision on California Water Code Authority
Client Successes Feb 05, 2018
Water Law Case Overturned for City
BB&K Partners Gene Tanaka and Shawn Hagerty Win in California Appellate Court
Event Feb 05, 2018
Sustainable Groundwater Planning in California
Law Seminars International
Event Nov 16, 2017
Groundwater Sustainability Plans, Prevailing Wage Requirements
CARCD's 72nd Annual Conference
Event Nov 16, 2017
Our Thirsty State
AWWEE Conference
Event Nov 14, 2017
Managing a Scarce Resource: Water
CLE International's Nevada Water Law Conference
Event Nov 13, 2017
The Scott River Litigation
Does the Public Trust Doctrine Apply to Groundwater Extractions?
BB&K In the News Oct 24, 2017
Water to Grow Marijuana in California’s Desert
BB&K Managing Partner Eric Garner Interviewed by Water Deeply
Event Oct 19, 2017
26th Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite
State Bar of California Environmental Law Section
Event Jun 12, 2017
Coping with Drought, Floods and the New Federal Administration
Argent's 2017 California Water Law & Policy MCLE Conference
Event May 30, 2017
Identifying Aquifers for Successful Management
IWRA XVIth World Water Congress
Legal Alerts May 22, 2017
State Water Board Adopts Groundwater Extraction Fees For SGMA Intervention
Fee Imposition Will Begin This Summer
Event May 18, 2017
Groundwater Sustainability Plans: Potential Challenges And Solutions
The American Ground Water Trust Conference
Event May 09, 2017
One Water, One Future
ACWA's 2017 Spring Conference & Exhibition
Event Apr 25, 2017
Water Laws and Regulations
HalfMoon Education Seminars
Legal Alerts Apr 11, 2017
Final California Water Conservation Plan and Proposed Legislation Released
Urban Water Suppliers Face Far-Reaching Consequences
Event Apr 06, 2017
Water Rights in an Era of “Permanent” Conservation Madness
California Water Policy Conference
Authored Articles & Publications Mar 16, 2017
Public Trust Doctrine & Water Rights
The Walker Case: Does the Public Trust Doctrine Apply to Water Rights Established in Judicial Decrees?
Event Mar 14, 2017
Local Arrangements to Manage Groundwater Demand and Lessons for WB Operations
World Bank Water Week 2017
Event Mar 09, 2017
Successes and Challenges in Groundwater Governance in California
World Bank Water Global Practice Group / Center for Mediterranean Integration
Event Feb 09, 2017
Western Water Law Conference
CLE International
Client Successes Feb 08, 2017
BB&K Represents Water District in Historic Indian Water Rights Settlement
The Pechanga Band of Luiseño Mission Indian Water Rights Settlement Act
Press Releases Jan 20, 2017
Southern California Super Lawyers 2017
Five BB&K Partners Receive Honor
Event Jan 09, 2017
SGMA, GSA Setup & GSP Preparation
Law Seminars International
![[WEBINAR] Prop 64: The Basics](/getmedia/12fa8f7f-3a77-455a-a014-72105d52ff44/Hand-Holding-Marijuana-Leaf-with-Cannabis-Plants-in-Bkgrnd_web?width=150&height=150&ext=.jpg)
Dec 01, 2016
[WEBINAR] Prop 64: The Basics
Cultivating New Regulations and Confronting New Challenges Presented By Marijuana Legalization
BB&K Event Nov 30, 2016
Free BB&K Webinar Series: Prop. 64 - Legalized Marijuana: Challenges and Choices
First in Series on Prop. 64: The Basics - Cultivating New Regulations and Confronting New Challenges Presented by Marijuana Legalization
Event Nov 29, 2016
Bringing Water Together
ACWA's 2016 Fall Conference & Exhibition
Videos Nov 22, 2016
Joseph Byrne Video Bio
Partner
Videos Nov 18, 2016
Eric L. Garner Video Bio
Managing Partner
BB&K In the News Nov 17, 2016
Drought Policies, Price of Water Lands in Court
Hillsborough, Represented by BB&K Attorney Kimberly Hood, Faces Suit from Residents
Event Nov 17, 2016
Webinar: Sustainable Groundwater Management Act 2.0: 2 Years To 2020/2022
State Bar of California, Environmental Law Section
Event Nov 16, 2016
Urban and Rural: Tying the Partnership Together
California Association of Resource Conservation Districts
Legal Alerts Nov 15, 2016
The Future of U.S. Infrastructure and Local Control Amid Post-Election Uncertainty
Post-Election Opportunities for Local Government Agencies
Authored Articles & Publications Nov 09, 2016
Endangered Fish v. Humans: The Fight Over Competing Water Needs
The Struggle to Find Balance is Explored by BB&K Partner Gene Tanaka in Municipal Lawyer Magazine
BB&K In the News Oct 27, 2016
BB&K’s Reimagining the Cadillac Desert
Maven’s Notebook Shares Highlights from Water Event
Event Oct 25, 2016
California Water: Current Challenges and Future Solutions Conference
Event Oct 23, 2016
Water Rights Reforms - Are Changes Needed to Our Water Rights and Pricing Systems?
State Bar of California 2016 Environmental Law Conference
Event Oct 20, 2016
25th Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite
State Bar of California Environmental Law
Event Sep 29, 2016
Agua Caliente v. Coachella Valley Water District, et al.
Tribal Water Law's 5th Annual Conference
Press Releases Sep 21, 2016
BB&K Partner Jeffrey V. Dunn Named One of the Top 100 Lawyers in California
Resolutions in Two Major Water Rights Matters Cited by the Daily Journal
BB&K In the News Sep 02, 2016
In Focus: Eric Garner
BB&K Managing Partner Eric Garner, a Board Member of The National Judicial College’s Dividing the Waters Program, is Profiled in The Network Note
Authored Articles & Publications Aug 24, 2016
Sweeping Six-Case Win For Water District Helps Secure Orange County’s Water Supply
BB&K Partner Michelle Ouellette Authors a Summary of Recent Appellate Victory for Orange County Lawyer Magazine
BB&K In the News Aug 15, 2016
How Israel Manages its Water Better than California Does
Managing Partner Eric Garner Among Authorities Who Share Insights in the Jewish Journal
Legal Alerts Jul 27, 2016
California State Water Board Extends Public Comment Period for Wetlands Policy; New Permits Likely to be Required
Public Comments Due Aug.18
BB&K In the News Jul 25, 2016
Water Futures
Managing Partner Eric Garner Discusses Changing Water Infrastructure with Best Lawyers
Legal Alerts Jul 20, 2016
California State Water Board Releases Revised Drinking Water Fee Regulations
Public Comments Due July 29th
Event Jun 30, 2016
Managing Groundwater in a Time of Increasing Demand and Changing Climate
Toward Sustainable Groundwater in Agriculture: 2nd International Conference Linking Science & Policy
Event Jun 15, 2016
Understanding Local Groundwater Storage Potential
UCLA Water Resource Group
Event Jun 06, 2016
Sustainable Groundwater in California
Law Seminars International
Legal Alerts May 19, 2016
Emergency Groundwater Sustainability Plan Regulations Adopted By California Water Commission
Key Principle: Sustainable Management Through Local Efforts
Event May 18, 2016
Proposition 218 Roundtable
University of California, Irvine School of Law
Event May 12, 2016
Groundwater: Legislation in California and Elsewhere; Overdraft; State and Local Management; Legal Treatment of Connection to Surface Water
National Water Law Forum
Legal Alerts May 09, 2016
New Executive Order Released By California Governor for Long-Term Water Planning Released
State Water Resources Control Board Releases Draft Regulation to Modify Water Conservation Requirements
BB&K In the News May 05, 2016
California Groundwater Regulation Hangs on a Few Words
BB&K Managing Partner Eric Garner Discusses in Circle of Blue Controversy Over the Word “Substantial” in the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act
Event May 04, 2016
2016 Spring Conference & Exhibition
Association of California Water Agencies
Legal Alerts May 04, 2016
California State Water Board Set to Impose New Drinking Water Fees on Public Water Systems
Public Comments Due June 22
Event Apr 26, 2016
Groundwater Law Conference
American Groundwater Trust
Videos Apr 21, 2016
Water Rights with Eric Garner: Beneficial and Reasonable Use
Video Series
Event Apr 04, 2016
Cities in Transition
Association of Environmental Professionals
Legal Alerts Mar 11, 2016
March 15 Deadline Approaches For California Water Suppliers to Apply for Adjustments to Water Conservation Requirements
Climate, Growth and Water Supply Adjustments Ease Conservation Burden in Some Communities
Videos Feb 24, 2016
Water Rights with Eric Garner: Prescriptive Rights
Video Series
Legal Alerts Feb 19, 2016
DWR Releases Draft Emergency Regulations for Groundwater Sustainability Plans in California
Proposed Regulations Include Required Plan Elements and Criteria for State Review
Videos Feb 02, 2016
Water Rights with Eric Garner: California Groundwater Rights
Video Series
Event Jan 28, 2016
Groundwater Sustainability Seminar
American Council of Engineering Companies
Legal Alerts Jan 21, 2016
Shasta Lake Water Levels Subject of New Litigation
Water Contractors Challenge SWRCB Order Potentially Restricting Water
Legal Alerts Jan 20, 2016
California State Water Board Releases Proposed Text of Emergency Water Conservation Regulation
Public Comments Due Jan. 28
Authored Articles & Publications Jan 07, 2016
Structuring Tiered Water Rates Under Conflicting Court Decisions: Interpreting the California Constitution
Partner Kelly Salt Writes About Tiered Rates in the January 2016 American Water Works Association Journal
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