New Drought Insurance Program in Washington State: A Lifeline for Farmers Introduction Washington State, through the Department of Ecology (DOE), has launched an innovative Washington State Drought Insurance Program. The program aims at providing relief to farmers and water right holders along the Columbia River. This program is designed to mitigate the impact of drought. […]
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NNPH & RCAC April Workshops Attention Northern Nevada residents, have you ever wished your home’s septic system and well came with an owner’s manual? Well, you’re in luck. This month, Northern Nevada Public Health (NNPH) and the Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) are teaming up to offer two free in-person workshops focused on domestic wells
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The Greater Idaho Movement is a fascinating and complex effort that has gained traction in recent years. This movement seeks to redraw the state boundaries. Several counties in eastern Oregon would become part of Idaho. The primary motivation behind this movement is the cultural and political differences between the rural, conservative eastern Oregon and the
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House Bill 3419: What’s Next for Well Monitoring and Reporting? Oregon House Bill 3419 has the potential to restrict how much water homeowners can pump from their exempt (non-permitted) wells. It requires meters to record water usage. This bill also focuses on constructing consistency in how water use is measured and reported, in hopes to
USCID Call for Papers – Consider Participating! The United States Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID www.uscid.org) is excited to announce the call for papers for its Annual Conference, scheduled to take place from October 21-24, 2025, in Reno, Nevada. This year’s conference will focus on the critical issues surrounding water supply and demand, emphasizing
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Oregon Snowpack: A Winter Wonderland in 2025 With the first day of spring just around the corner, Oregon’s snowpack is now a topic of significant interest and importance. This year, Oregon has experienced remarkable snowfall, leading to a snowpack that is not only above average but also the best in the western United States. What
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The 2025 Nevada Legislative Session has begun. It’s looking like a busy session for water bills. Four bills caught my attention and we thought we should share them with you! Assembly Bill 134 AB 134 proposes to amend NRS Chapter 533 to allow owners of a perfected water rights to submit water conservation plans to
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TAXING FARMERS BASED ON WATER AVAILABILITY Attorney Laura Schroeder recently returned from Egypt. She shares in this article the use of nilometers in ancient Egypt that offers a fascinating intersection of law, administration, and environmental science. These devices were pivotal in determining tax rates based on the annual flooding of the Nile River, highlighting the
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Is Specialized Training for Nevada Water Judges Working? Most agree that the Nevada Supreme Court’s initiative to provide specialized training for Nevada water judges was a significant step towards improving the adjudication of water law cases in the state. However, the jury is still out when it comes to determining the overall success of the
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Water Use Efficiency and Conservation in Las Vegas: A Model for Arid Cities Las Vegas, a city renowned for its vibrant nightlife and extravagant resorts, is also becoming a beacon of water use efficiency and conservation. Nestled in the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas faces unique challenges in managing its water resources. With approximately 90% of
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As the writer at the Federal Reserve Bank commented in his article Are Water Resources Keeping Up with U.S. Economic Needs? – San Francisco Fed water is not something we can transport from a water rich area to a water poor one. While the research studies cited in the article advise that the United States
Are Water Resources Keeping Up? Read More »
Integrated Water Resources Strategy: Oregon IWRS IWRS means Oregon’s statewide Integrated Water Resources Strategy. On November 12, 2024, six Oregon departments hosted a public meeting to discuss IWRS priorities for the next five to 7 years. Sponsoring departments included: Over 50 people attended both online and in person in Salem, including Schroeder Law Offices, to
Schroeder Law Offices, P.C. legal assistant Melissa Teter, has volunteered at The Growers Grange, a local farm in Corbett, OR, for the last two growing seasons. The Growers Grange is a small farm run by Bianca and Ethan Nati. Their focus is on preserving their Italian tradition by growing heirloom vegetables and fruit. In addition
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Did You Know? Rice Crops in California Use Water Efficiently California is renowned for its rich agricultural diversity. It produces almonds, avocados, grapes, and pistachios. Having an arid climate the state must use water efficiently. Did you know California is the second-largest rice producer in the United States? Thanks to their Mediterranean climate—with sparse rain
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The McCarran Amendment A current Ninth Circuit Case could upset pre-1952 water rights adjudications in certain circumstances! Enacted by Congress in 1952, the McCarran Amendment, 43 U.S.C. § 666, waives the United States’ sovereign immunity in state court water rights adjudications. The Amendment acknowledges the power of a state to regulate ownership and use of the
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On September 17th, 2024, the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) implemented new groundwater rules that have sparked significant debate. While these rules aim to promote sustainable water use, they also raise several concerns that merit discussion. Arbitrary Power and Political Influence One of the primary criticisms of the new groundwater rules is that they grant
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At Schroeder Law Offices we are dedicated to providing exceptional service to our clients. Leveraging advanced technology like TABS3, NetDocuments, Zoom, and Microsoft 365 helps us achieve this goal. They streamline our operations and enhance client satisfaction. TABS3: Leveraging Technology in Practice Management TABS3 is a comprehensive practice management software that benefits clients in several
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The Chevron deference two-step is no longer. A once powerful doctrine applicable to judicial review of administrative action is overruled by Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. The outcome is no surprise, Chief Justice John Roberts long found Chevron as an inappropriate leverage of executive power over the judiciary branch. Chevron deference required Courts to defer
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The United States Committee for Irrigation and Drainage (USCID) fall conference registration is now open. www.uscid.org As the current president of this organization, I’m letting my “friends of Schroeder Law Offices” know what we are up to when not working in the office representing our clients. What is USCID? The USCID is a non-profit organization
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While not a new topic on our blog, we wanted to take this opportunity to remind you that Nevada’s vested water right sunset date of December 31, 2027 is fast approaching! To assist you, we recently updated an article entitled, “How to Research Your Land and Water”.
Don’t Forget – time is running out to file Vested Water Rights in Nevada! Read More »
