Experience

• Represents a Groundwater Sustainability Agency in multiple groundwater adjudications and related lawsuits challenging the agency’s Groundwater Sustainability Plans and implementing regulatory and management actions under the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).
• Represents public agencies in multiple phases of complex groundwater litigation and obtained a jury verdict in favor of her clients to secure the public water supplier’s prescriptive groundwater rights during periods of groundwater shortage.
• Successfully defended private ranching companies’ water rights in a comprehensive surface water adjudication, including securing a favorable state Supreme Court ruling confirming the clients’ rights to the use of water on public lands.
• Advised public and private entities concerning the implementation of and compliance with SGMA.
• Served as counsel to major irrigation district, in addition to individual irrigators and ranchers, in cases involving water rights adjudications and transfers, and in the defense of historic water rights.
• Representation of SWP contractors in litigation and associated complex mediation proceedings involving California’s area of origin laws and SWP contracts.
• Served as a neutral mediator and facilitated a successful negotiated settlement of a water rights dispute between private landowners.
• Representation of energy companies in litigation, resulting in a comprehensive settlement agreement, regarding the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB) Water Quality Control Policy on the Use of Coastal and Estuarine Waters for Power Plant Cooling. (OTC Policy)
• Served as outside general corporate counsel to private entities in a broad range of corporate and environmental matters.

Published Decisions

• Joyce Livestock v. United States, 144 Idaho l (2007)
• LU Ranching v. United States, 144 Idaho 89 (2007)

Honors & Activities

• Included in The Best Lawyers in America^® (Natural Resources Law), 2023–2024
• Listed among Northern California Super Lawyers^® (Energy & Natural Resources, Environmental), 2023
• Listed in Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyers, 2023
• Named to the Daily Journal’s “Top Women Lawyers” list, 2023
• American Bar Association
  • Chair, Water Resources Conference Planning Committee, 2008–2009
  • Vice Chair, Water Resources Committee, 2006–present
  • Member, Water Resources Conference Planning Committee, 2004–present
  • Vice Chair and Co-Chair of AHA Water Resources Conference, 2008–2009
  • Vice Chair (Special Appointment), Sponsorship, 2009–2013
  • Vice Chair, Editor, Year in Review, 2010–present

Insights & Presentations

• Co-author, “California State Water Resources Control Board Modifies Annual Water Diversion and Use Reporting Deadlines for 2022 and Updates on Drought Curtailment Orders,” Stoel Rives Water Law Alert, March 10, 2022
• Presenter, “SGMA Through the Lens of Recent Groundwater Adjudications,” 2021 Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) CLE Virtual Workshop Series, October 13, 2021
• Presenter, “SGMA Driven Adjudications,” CalCIMA Education Conference: Environmental Series, February 23, 2021
• Co-author, “State Water Board Staff Releases Staff Preliminary Draft Statewide Construction Stormwater General Permit and Announces Virtual Workshops,” Stoel Rives Environmental Law blog, December 1, 2020
• Co-author, “California Wineries Take Note, Part Two: State Water Board Notices Stakeholder Meeting Regarding Winery General Order Fees,” Stoel Rives Environmental Law blog, July 20, 2020
• Co-author, “California Wineries Take Note: State Water Board Releases Draft General Order for Winery Process Water for Public Comment,” Stoel Rives Environmental Law blog, July 15, 2020
• Co-author, “State Water Agencies Expect Water Use Reporting to Continue as Normal as California Shelters in Place,” Stoel Rives Environmental Law blog, March 31, 2020

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