With the recent discoveries of lead in Portland Public Schools drinking water and the September 15th discovery at the University of Oregon, it becomes a reminder for us all to ensure that our groundwater supply is providing healthy and safe drinking water. According to the Oregon Health Authority, 90 percent of the population of the
How Safe is Your Drinking Water? Read More »
On, Thursday, September 1, 2016, the State Bar of Nevada’s Environmental and Natural Resource Section hosted a successful Meet & Greet mixer event for the section members with invited special guests. The special guests consisted of agency leaders from both state and federal environmental and natural resource agencies. The special guests in attendance included: Name
New studies have shown that a large number of older farmers are concerned with their ability to find a successor who is able to afford to buy their land, thus putting their plans for retirement at risk. Currently, the average age of the American farmer is 58 years old. Only less than 6% of American
Next Generation Farmers Need Our Help Read More »
The Bureau of Land Management has scheduled a workshop to explore the ideas of strategic targeted grazing. Targeted grazing is a natural approach using controlled livestock to accomplish vegetation management. More specific examples of vegetation management include: weed control, reducing the fuels of wildland fires, aiding in restoration projects as well as landscape enhancement. One of
Participate in Targeted Grazing Discussions Read More »
World Water Week 2016 is currently underway in Stockholm, Sweden, an annual event hosted by the Stockholm International Water Institute (“SIWI”). World Water Week is the annual focal point for global water issues, consisting of more than 140 events covering a range of subjects. The main theme of the 2016 event is “Water for Sustainable
Water for Sustainable Growth Read More »
Lindsay Thane Schroeder Law Offices is happy to announce the newest addition the team, Lindsay Thane! Lindsay Thane has accepted the position as JD Paralegal in the Portland, OR office. Lindsay comes to Schroeder Law Offices from Montana where she received her J.D. from the University Of Montana School Of Law with a certificate in Natural
Schroeder Law Offices Welcomes Lindsay Thane to the Team! Read More »
New laws and legislation may affect you, stay tuned for tomorrow’s work session on topics of adaptive management, domestic use, cloud seeding, basin management, and mine dewatering! Nevada’s Legislative Commission’s Subcommittee to Study Water will be holding a meeting on Friday morning, August 26, 2016 at 9:00AM at the Legislative Building, Room 4100, at 401
Forecasting 2017 Water Legislation in Nevada Read More »
The July 2016 Nevada Lawyer Magazine focuses on drought conditions and features Schroeder Law Offices’ Attorney Therese Ure’s article, “Use It or Lose It:” for Nevada’s Water in Times of Drought. The article discusses Nevada Revised Statute 534.090, which has become known as the “Use It or Lose It Doctrine” in reference to
“Use it or Lose it” Nevada’s Water in Times of Drought Read More »
California Water Right Ownership Updates Required The State of California wants to know when you sell or transfer water rights. As part of any land use transaction involving water rights, regulations require landowners to provide notice to the Water Resources Control Board (WRCB) when water rights transfer to new owners. The WRCB will accept any
California Water Right Ownership Updates Required Read More »
Below, please see the ground water management public meeting schedule posted by the Idaho Department of Water Resources. Additional Information for Idaho Ground Water Management: IDWR’s website with the ESPA GWMA information: http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/water-rights/GWMA/proposed.html Director’s letter regarding ESPA GWMA: http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/files/ground_water_mgmt/20160707-Letter-to-Waters-Users-from-Gary-Spackman-Re-Proposed-ESPA-GWMA.pdf Map of Proposal: http://www.idwr.idaho.gov/files/ground_water_mgmt/espa-gwma-boundary-map.pdf
Idaho Ground Water Management Area Public Meetings are Scheduled Read More »
In the wake of ongoing controversy over the reach of U.S. Agency jurisdiction, a Senate Appropriations Committee is taking steps to decrease funds available for many Agencies for the upcoming year, in an attempt to limit any overreach. On June 16, 2016 the Senate Committee approved budget cuts to the United States Fish and Wildlife
Senate Committee Proposes Budget Cuts to EPA and USFWS Read More »
The Oregon Water Resources Commission’s (OWRC’s) rulemaking for the Greater Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern (Area of Concern) became effective on April 15, 2016. The new regulations limit pending and new applications for groundwater use in the Malheur Basin. Citing concern over lowering groundwater levels in the region, OWRC passed the new regulations to
New: Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern Read More »
California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act Regulations Issued California’s Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (“SGMA”) was passed in 2014. The SGMA requires local agencies to bear the burden of creating, implementing, and enforcing Groundwater Sustainability Plans (“GSP”) in certain groundwater basins to manage the aquifer in a “sustainable” manner. The California Department of Water Resources (“CDWR”) recently
New Sustainable Groundwater Regulations Read More »
On April 6, 2016, amendments to the Klamath Hydroelectric Settlement Agreement (KHSA) and the new Klamath Power and Facilities Agreement (KPFA) were signed at a ceremony at the mouth of the Klamath River on the Yurok Indian Reservation. These changes come in the wake of the Congress’s decision not to pass legislation for the Klamath
Update: Klamath Basin Agreements in 2016 Read More »
The Oregon Water Code provides that construction of a water system must be completed within certain time limits from issuance of water use permits (5 years for non-municipal water use permits, and 20 years for municipal permits). ORS 537.230 (“…the holder of a water right permit shall prosecute the construction of any proposed irrigation or
New Oregon Water Permit Condition to Begin Construction Read More »
The Oregon Water Resources Commission recently awarded nine water supply project proposals in the state of Oregon with a combined $8.9 million for projects focusing mainly on water conservation. The Commission received funding in the amount of $14 million from the state to implement large-scale water conservation plans across the state. Although urged to fund
Oregon water conservation projects receive $8.9 million in funding Read More »
The Clean Water Act is an issue of gathering significance with the Environmental Protection Agency and adoption of a newly defined “waters of the United States” (“WOTUS”), wherein civil and criminal penalties can attach if pollutant is discharged into jurisdictional waters. Thus, whether water is defined as “jurisdictional” becomes an important significance. On May 31,
U.S. Supreme Court Rules CWA Jurisdiction Reviewable in Federal Court Read More »
Water resource users are some of the most environmental aware stewards since they must count every precious drop of water necessary to feed the world and provide safe drinking water. In the United States, we celebrate Earth Day: We have a bike-to-work week, we have recycling and environmental preservation programs in our communities, the list
World Environment Day: Sunday, June 5th Read More »
The debate continues on the prior appropriation system. During the 2016 Family Farm Alliance Annual Conference, the Alliance’s 2015 report on the prior appropriation doctrine raised some debate. This debate, now focusing on Nevada’s prior appropriation system, was again raised in equal vigor during the 2016 Nevada Water Resources Association annual conference. While many argue
The End of the Prior Appropriation Doctrine? Read More »
On May 9, 2016, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed an executive order making certain water conservation measures permanent. The measure is meant to build on temporary emergency water restriction in place since last year. Brown’s office reports that “between June 2015 and March 2016, Californians reduced water use by 23.9 percent compared with the
Executive Order Makes California Water Conservation Permanent Read More »
