Join the US Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID) on April 12th, 2023 at 11:00 AM (Pacific Time) for a webinar on How to Obtain Title Transfer for Federal Water Projects. Frank Dimick, of Dimick Water Resources Engineering, will host the 30-minute presentation and Q+A session via Zoom. Participants will also learn how the United […]
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 »
On October 3rd, 2022, the Supreme Court heard the oral argument for the first case of its 2022-2023 term: Sackett v. EPA. The case calls into question the definition of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS), as it will decide the proper test to determine which wetlands are considered WOTUS, and therefore subject to federal
Laura A. Schroeder is the founding partner of Schroeder Law Offices. Long respected in the water rights arena, Laura has generously shared her valuable experiences and provided some great advice. A few questions we asked Laura: What motivated you to practice water law and start Schroeder Law Offices? I used to work on a farm
Employee Spotlight: Laura A. Schroeder Read More »
Echo Zhang is a summer law clerk at Schroeder Law Offices. As a new addition to the office, she is eager to learn everything about water law and gain the necessary skills as a practicing attorney. A few questions we asked Echo: What brought you to Schroeder Law Offices, and what’s your experience? I’m currently
Employee Spotlight: Echo Zhang Read More »
[This article was originally published in the February, 2022 Oregon Real Estate and Land Use Digest by the Section on Real Estate and Land Use, Oregon State Bar] In Oregon, water rights must be beneficially used according to their terms at least once every five years to remain in good standing. If they are not,
Oregon Hydroelectric Water Right Converted Instream Read More »
The Oregon Legislature’s short session officially begins today, February 1st. It is anticipated that water users and water managers alike can catch their breaths somewhat during the short session, since not as many water-related bills will be considered. The 2021 regular session was a marathon for those of us closely following or involved in water
Oregon Short Session & Water-Related Bills Read More »
(The below article is reproduced from the January, 2022 issue of Oregon Cattleman, the publication of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association. For a PDF copy of the article, use this link.) 2021 was a terrible water year in Oregon. We experienced record high temperatures and record low precipitation, after several years of already below-average precipitation, little
The Need for Additional Water Storage Read More »
Laura Schroeder and Therese Ure Stix joined Alan Schroeder in questioning agency deference in a recent op-ed piece published by the Capital Press: Commentary: Get ready for sage grouse management plan 4.0 | Columns | capitalpress.com It is not unusual for natural resource attorneys to be on the opposing side of federal and state agency
Trading Water as a Commodity Unappropriated water has long been considered a public resource. It is subject to private ownership rights and development, to be sure. But the law generally treats water differently compared to commodities like consumer goods or other natural resources like lumber. The UN recognized water’s essential role in the public commons
California’s Water Futures Trading 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 »
Attorney Sarah Liljefelt is honored to be serving as the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association’s Water Resources Committee Chair. She started this role at the beginning of 2020. Sarah has been an OCA member for many years. She is also very involved with the Oregon CattleWomen. With the Oregon CattleWomen, she served as a former Vice President
Attorney Appointed Water Committee Chair Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
A lot has changed since 1909, when Oregon enacted its Water Code and the water use permit system began. Obtaining a water use permit can be a lengthy and detailed process. If you’re not careful you can limit the flexibility of your water permit through self-imposed conditions without realizing it. For example, Schroeder Law Offices
Careful of Self-Imposed Water Use Conditions Read More »
Attorney Sarah Liljefelt presented at Halfmoon’s Water Laws and Regulations seminar on June 7th on the topic of Oregon Groundwater, teaching a group of engineers about groundwater ownership, regulation, and acquisition of groundwater use rights in Oregon. This week, on June 28th, Sarah will present at the Oregon State Bar Environmental & Natural Resources Section’s
Oregon Groundwater Presentations Read More »
Water use conditions in the Klamath Basin continue to worsen in 2018. On March 8, 2018, a water “call” was made in the Klamath Basin, and the Oregon Water Resources Department (“OWRD”) began the validation process for shutting off junior water users. Within the week, on March 13th, Governor Kate Brown declared a drought in
Conditions in the Klamath Basin Worsen in 2018 Read More »
On February 1, 2018, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the “groundwater conduit theory,” whereby a discharge of pollutants into groundwater that is fairly traceable to a navigable surface water is the functional equivalent of a discharge directly into the navigable water body for the purpose of regulation under the Clean Water Act. This
Ninth Circuit Upholds Groundwater Conduit Theory Read More »
