National Ag Day is March 24, 2020. It’s a special day to recognize and celebrate the contributions of agriculture. We should all “thank a farmer” at every meal and every time we get dressed. Therefore, National Ag Day is an organized effort to do just that. See the Agriculture Council of America’s website for more
Agriculture “Essential” on National Ag Day Read More »
Every year the Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRD”) allows 15 districts to change their place of use without going through a long Transfer Application process. This process, called the Irrigation District Pilot Project, allows one transfer application for every irrigation season. The Project started in 2003 and the Oregon State Legislature has extended it several
Irrigation District Pilot Project allows greater ease for transfer applications Read More »
Oregon dairy farmers produce great milk products for the northwest! Jakob Wiley attended the Oregon Dairy Farmers Association (“ODFA”) conference in Salem, Oregon this February. The conference included a fascinating keynote presentation by Alison Van Eenennaam of UC Davis. Her presentation addressed the intersection of climate change, dairy products, and cultured meat. Cultured meat is
Oregon Dairy Farmers Association Conference Read More »
Associate Attorney Jakob Wiley recently co-authored an article titled “Groundwater Management: The Movement Toward Local, Community-Based, Voluntary Programs” in the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy (Volume 29, Issue 1) available for download here. Jakob’s contribution provided the western United States’ examples and perspectives for the paper. The paper is a product of a
Associate Jakob Wiley Publishes Groundwater Management Article Read More »
Oregon State University’s Family Business 360 Series for 2019-2020 will feature Laura Schroeder in a webinar on February 20, 2020. The webinar will have two parts. The first is an introduction to water rights drawing on Laura’s nearly 30 years’ experience as an Oregon water lawyer. The second part addresses Due Diligence for Sellers and
Webinar: Water Rights Due Diligence Read More »
The Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRD”) does not use a single definition of an aquifer. Instead, it uses different applications of the word depending on the context. Scientifically, there is a generally accepted definition (which we discussed here: https://www.water-law.com/who-owns-an-aquifer/): “body of permeable rock which can contain or transmit groundwater.”[1] Depending on the location, context,
OWRD’s Various Aquifer Definitions Read More »
More and more in Oregon, hopeful groundwater use applicants are finding that proposed uses of groundwater are denied by the Oregon Water Resources Department due to the agency’s finding of hydraulic connection with surface water sources and the potential for groundwater use to cause substantial interference with existing surface water rights. When the agency makes
Surface-Water-to-Groundwater Transfers: Too Connected or Not Connected Enough? Read More »
The adoption of efficient water technologies is identified as a goal under Oregon Water Resources Department’s (“OWRD”) 2017 Integrated Water Resources Strategy (https://www.oregon.gov/OWRD/programs/Planning/IWRS/Pages/default.aspx). For agricultural uses, weather-based irrigation, soil moisture controls, computer controlled irrigation, and piping and drip irrigation systems are being developed to substantially reduce the amount of water applied to land for the
The “Dark Side” of Water Efficiency: The Rise of Return Flow Injury Read More »
Schroeder Law Offices does everything water, including educating others on the basics of water law, resource planning and water rights. Recently at an educational one day “Boot Camp,” attorney Laura Schroeder covered an expansive list of water related topics for registrants from the Yamhill Soil and Water Conservation District. The class was tailored specifically to
Water Law Boot Camp Coming for the Tualatin Soil and Water Conservation District Read More »
Starting September 29, 2019, natural gas providers in Oregon will have a new, renewable way of powering their customers’ homes. Governor Kate Brown executed a new law at the end of July, 2019 allowing capture, treatment, and conversion of methane found in wastewater into renewable natural gas (“RNG” or “biogas”), which can then be used
S.B. 98 Broadens Ability to Turn Wastewater into Renewable Natural Gas Read More »
Reports of a broken barge lock at the Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River surfaced on September 9th. The crack was discovered last week and crews began working Monday morning on repairs. The cause of the damage is unknown. To begin the repairs, the crews must first demolish the cracked concrete section. It remains unclear,
Shipping in Pacific Northwest Halted Due to Cracked Barge Lock at Bonneville Dam Read More »
Beginning Tuesday, September 3, Schroeder Law Offices, P.C., resumes regular office hours: Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 p.m. Schroeder Law will be closed, Monday, September 2, to observe Labor Day. This summer we experimented with a nine day rotation, Monday through the next Thursday, 7:30 am – 5:30 pm. The tenth day, every
Standard Office Hours Resume in September Read More »
For the past decade, Schroeder Law Offices has provided opportunities to law students interested in learning water and natural resource law. Former SLO law clerks have established successful legal practices across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Schroeder Law Offices is pleased to introduce our 2019 summer law clerk, Katie Jourdan. Katie is returning to work
Introducing SLO’s 2019 Summer Law Clerk Read More »
Schroeder Law Offices is pleased to announce that Attorney/Partner Sarah Liljefelt accepted the position of Water Resources Committee Chair for the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, beginning in the coming year. Sarah has been a member of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association for many years, and has been very active with the Oregon CattleWomen as Vice President and
Sarah Liljefelt Accepts Position as OCA’s Water Resources Committee Chair Read More »
The year 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Willamette Valley Project, a tumultuous time in the history of the project. These dams are operated by the United States Army Corp of Engineers’ (“Corp”) Portland District, which utilizes 13 dams to prevent flooding and provide water storage for various water users and aquatic species in
Willamette Project’s 50 Year Anniversary: Flooding and Reallocation Read More »
At the 41st Oregon Association of Water Utilities (OAWU) Annual Management and Technical Conference, Attorney Laura Schroeder was presented with the “Friend of Rural Water” award on March 6, 2019. To win this award, the individual must constantly “go above and beyond the call of duty” OAWU recognizes “a friend” as one who represents OAWU
Attorney Laura Schroeder Wins Friend of Rural Water at OAWU Conference Read More »
The Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRD”) will present proposed temporary rules to the Water Resource Commission that would place a temporary hold on Upper Klamath Basin well regulation for two years, during which time OWRD would only regulate off wells within 500 feet of surface water sources in response to validated calls for water.
Temporary Hold on Upper Klamath Basin Well Regulation through Proposed Rulemaking Read More »
At the end of 2018, the Oregon Water Resources Commission adopted new rules to facilitate small municipal water suppliers’ completion of Water Management and Conservation Plans (“WMCP”). The Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRD”) stated the new Oregon Administrative Rules (“OAR”), OAR 690-086-0300 to 0370, are intended to provide more flexibility for small municipal water suppliers
Recent Oregon Administrative Rule Revisions Tailored to Small Municipal Water Suppliers Read More »
It’s that time of year again! As 2018 draws to a close, Schroeder Law Offices wants to remind Oregon water users that the deadline to submit water use measurements to the Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRD”) is December 31, 2018. Many permits and certificates for both surface and groundwater rights contain language specifying the type
Year End Water Use Reporting Deadline Approaches! Read More »
Schroeder Law Offices’ paralegal Tara Jackson spent a sunny weekend with fellow members of the Oregon Ground Water Association in August camping at beautiful Pelton Park for the Association’s annual Picnic/Camp out. The event is held by the Association every summer in appreciation of its members and provides a much needed respite for water professionals
Sun, Fun, and a Little Clowning Around at Oregon Ground Water Association’s Camp Out! Read More »
