Can I Use My Spring in Oregon Without A Water Right of Use? Oregon Water Resources Department’s (“OWRD”) is ratcheting down on new applications for surface and groundwater sources. Consequently, Oregonians are looking at those uses exempt from water righting by OWRD. Different exemptions apply whether the use is considered surface or groundwater. So what […]
Water Rights for Springs Read More »
Schroeder Law Offices is pleased to announce that Kelsey Seibel has joined the firm as a new associate attorney in Portland, Oregon.
Kelsey Seibel Joins Schroeder Law Offices Read More »
Therese Stix has been appointed by its Board of Directors as Vice President of the United States Committee on Irrigation and Drainage. USCID’s mission is to promote progressive irrigation, drainage, and flood control practices in support of food and fiber production and public safety, recognizing that sustainability embodies economic, social, and environmental goals.
Therese Stix Appointed USCID Vice President! Read More »
The Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRD”) has stopped processing new groundwater applications and begun to severely limit groundwater permit extensions. This policy change places a significant burden on groundwater permittees and will directly impact agriculture in Oregon. Ultimately, OWRD’s policy change will significantly limit agricultural expansion in the state. In his article “Oregon Moves to
Oregon Water Resources Department Pushes for More Regulation Read More »
The current moment presents a number of unique challenges for water sustainability, including for farmers. When farmers do not have enough water to meet the population’s need for food and goods, the results can be devastating to certain population groups. In his article There Has Never Been a More Important Time to Protect American Food
Water Issues Affecting Local Food Production Read More »
In the first year back since COVID-19, the Nevada State Bar, Environmental & Natural Resources Section held its Annual Meet & Greet event on November 3, 2022. A social, after work event, honorees included Adam Sullivan (Nevada State Engineer), Micheline Fairbank (Nevada Deputy Administrator for Nevada Division of Water Resources), David Bobzien (Nevada’s Office of
In our earlier blog, Schroeder Law Offices announced the Nevada Division of Environmental Protections’ (NDEP) workshop on Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB) Draft R113-22. LCB R113-22 proposed changes to Nevada’s water quality regulations for Nevada surface waters. Now NDEP proposes to adopt additional regulations under the following LCB Numbers: R114-22, R115-22, and R116-22 amending
NDEP Schedules Workshop on Additional Water Quality Regulations Read More »
As of September 13th, Oregon Water Resources Department Director Tom Byler has officially retired after 27 years working for the state of Oregon. A new OWRD director will be appointed by Oregon’s next governor. To serve for the remainder of her term, governor Kate Brown has appointed acting director Doug Woodcock, who previously worked as
Oregon Water Resources Department Director Tom Byler Retires Read More »
In the article “Trends in Clinical Legal Education Affecting Agriculture” by Caroline Lobdell and Scott Horngren, the authors provide a thorough look into the current state of environmental, agricultural, and animal law programs in law schools throughout the country. Though environmental law programs have steadily increased since the passage of groundbreaking environmental laws in the
Schroeder Law Offices had a blast working at the 2022 Oregon State Fair. If you weren’t able to make it down to Salem for the annual festivities, we’re here to fill you in. During the fair’s kickoff weekend, Tara Lomacz and Madeleine Criglow worked the Oregon Women for Agriculture booth in Salem Fairgrounds’ Columbia
A Weekend at the 2022 Oregon State Fair Read More »
The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) is proposing new regulations on water quality. NDEP announced an official regulation workshop on August 31, 2022 to solicit public comment and input on Legislative Counsel Bureau (LCB) Draft of Proposed Regulation R113-22. R113-22 sets forth a process for the State Environmental Commission to classify a surface water
Nevada Proposes Amended Water Quality Regulations Read More »
Nevada Division of Water Resources (“NDWR”) has drafted proposed water related regulations and the public is encouraged to get involved by attending the upcoming workshops. The draft regulations concerning water use are R169-20 (concerning extensions of time) and R170-20 (concerning Water Right Surveyor licenses). R169-20 This draft regulation proposes, among other things, to
Nevada Water Legislation Workshops are Coming Up! Read More »
This post is one of a series highlighting the ways in which water users have adapted to life in the time of COVID-19. Todd Nash is a rancher, Wallowa County Commissioner, and President Elect for the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. He and his wife, Angie, own Nash Natural Beef. They run primarily an angus cow-calf operation in
Nash Natural Beef Focuses on Customers During COVID-19 Read More »
What is the Agriculture Innovation Agenda? The USDA seeks to stimulate agriculture innovations that by 2050 will (1) increase agricultural production by 40%, and (2) reduce the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture by half. Other benchmarks include: Reduce food loss and waste by 50% by 2030 Build landscape resiliency by investing in active forest management
USDA SEEKS PUBLIC INPUT ON AGRICULTURE INNOVATION AGENDA Read More »
By Therese Ure and Lisa Mae Gage Nevada Division of Water Resources (“NDWR”) submitted draft administrative regulation amendments to the Legislative Council Bureau for this regulation cycle (the proposed amendments can be found at http://water.nv.gov/documents/NDWR_Prop_Admin_Regs-Hearings_EOT_Water_Right_Surveyor_6-8-2020.pdf ). A public workshop concerning the administrative regulation amendments was hosted by NDWR on June 24, 2020 wherein NDWR received
Nevada Division of Water Resources’ Draft Regulation Amendments Read More »
In the second COVID-19 webinar, Laura Schroeder and Sarah Liljefelt discussed what to do when you receive a notice of cancellation of your water right in Oregon. The webinar aired originally on April 22, 2020 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM. You can view the webinar here!. Stay tuned to our blog for announcements for
It’s time to call your Congressman—House Bill H.R. 5737, introduced on January 30, 2020 proposes the implementation of procedures to permanently retire federal grazing allotments. H.R. 5737 or the “Voluntary Grazing Permit Retirement Act” (the Act) proposes the ability of grazing permittees to sell or “waive” their right to graze under their Bureau of Land
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 »
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 »
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 »
