2025 California Water Law Symposium I February 15 at University of California, Berkeley School of Law I Water and Innovation
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CALIFORNIA'S BAY DELTA:
​​
​UNDERSTANDING WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR THE REGION'S FUTURE
​

University of the Pacific | Saturday, January 23, 2016 (All day)

This award-winning event is produced by law students from McGeorge School of Law, UC Berkeley School of Law, UC Hastings College of Law, Golden Gate University School of Law, University of San Francisco School of Law, and UC Davis School of Law. This year we will explore innovations needed to address periodic drought as the new normal in California water via six exciting panels. The panels will examine the importance of “thinking globally, acting locally” in the context of key
​emerging issues.
Symposium Presenter CLE Materials
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Agenda


8:00 am – 9:00 am
​Registration and Continental Breakfast

9:00 am – 9:15 am ​
Introduction:

Dean Francis J. Mootz III, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific 
Professor Jennifer Harder, McGeorge School of Law, University of the Pacific
Symposium Co-chairs

9:15 am – 10:15 am
​Regulatory and Technological Innovation in Water Use Information, Measurement
​and Data Analytics

10:25 am – 11:25 am
​Expanding Supply and Reducing Demand-Alternative Sources, Conservation and Efficiency

11:35 am - 12:35 pm
​Local Paths to Water Justice

12:35 pm – 1:35 pm
​Lunch and Keynote

Justice Ronald Robie '67, Third District Court of Appeal

1:45pm – 2:45 pm
​Water-Energy Nexus and the New Normal 

2:55 pm - 3:55 pm ​
Local Storage and Infrastructure Projects

4:05 pm – 5:05 pm ​
Implementing the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

5:15 pm – 7:30 pm ​
Reception
 


Panel Description

Regulatory and Technological Innovation in Water Use Information, Measurement,
​ and Data Analytics 

UC Berkeley School of Law
California faces considerable current and future water management challenges. Measurement, science, and data provide the foundation for innovative techniques and technologies that will play an important role in California’s water management future. This panel highlights measurement, innovation, information, and data in multiple sectors: state regulatory agencies, water districts, and the private sector. The panel will begin by summarizing the current state of water use measurement information in California. Panelists will speak about innovations occurring in their areas of expertise, as well as the incentives and legal, economic, political, and technical barriers to innovation. Panelists will also discuss entities their organization shares data with, and long term plans or visions for increasing information flow.

Moderator

Neli Green Nylen 
Research Fellow, Wheeler Institute for Water
Law and Policy at Berkeley Law

Panelists

Andy Sawyer
Assistant Chief Counsel, State Water
​Resources Control Board
Robb Bamitt
Founder and CEO, Dropcountr
Erick Soderlund
Attorney at Santa Clara Valley Water District

Local Storage and Infrastructure Projects 

UC Davis School of Law
This panel will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with the acquisition and use of Proposition 1 funds to address local water concerns. The panel will touch on the role of Urban Water Management Plans, Groundwater Sustainability Agencies, and Integrated Regional Management Plans with respect to local water management.

Moderator

Katherine Spanos
Senior Staff Counsel with the California
​Department of Water Resources

Panelists

Kamyar Guivetchi
Chief of DWR’s Division of Statewide
​ Integrated Management
Jack Safely
Imported Supply Unit Manager at the Metropolitan
​Water District of Southern California. 
Anne Hartridge
Senior Staff Counsel at the State Water Resources
​Control Board

Local Paths to Water Justice

McGeorge School of Law​
This panel would build on the environmental justice and human right to water discussion at the 2015 symposium by focusing on water justice issues in geographic areas of California not yet explored. There are no less than six different agencies within California that oversee and regulate domestic water systems in California. The panel would discuss the reality that disadvantaged communities generally lack access to clean, safe, affordable, or reliable water due to a fractured oversight and regulatory system that does not adequately protect these communities.

Moderator

Stephen McCaffrey
McGeorge School of Law, Distinguished
​Professor of Law

Panelists

Collin Bailey
Environmental Justice Coalition for Water, 
​Executive Director
Debbie Franco
Governor’s Office of Planning and Research, Community
​and Rural Affairs Advisor
Tracey O'Reilly
 Miller Axline & Sawyer, Attorney

Implementing the 2014 Sustainable Groundwater Management Act

USF School of Law
The ongoing drought is affecting California in profound ways including increased reliance on groundwater. Over-pumping has depleted aquifers and caused land subsidence with associated damage to roads, bridges, and other infrastructure. As climate change reduces California water supplies, increased demand for groundwater is likely to continue. To address these challenges, California passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) in 2014.  The SGMA and its implementation aims to incorporate local agencies and actors to try to combat this statewide issue. Join our panel discussion to learn more about about how SGMA implementation will affect groundwater management, and the potential conflicts that are on the horizon.

Moderator

Nathan Metcalf
Hanson Bridgett, Partner

Panelists

Erik Ekdahi
State Water Resources Control Board
Michael Frantz
Turlock Irrigation District, Board of Directors
Laurel Firestone
Community Water Center, Co-Executive Director,
​Co-Founder, Attorney at Law

Expanding Supply and Reducing Demand-- Alternative Sources, Conservation, and Efficiency

 UC Hastings College of Law
UC Hastings will embrace this year’s theme of “think globally, act locally” when our panel will look to at the best practices utilized by Israel and Australia.  There, the water saving practices resulted in water independence.  We hope that by exploring these practices, soon, California’s cup will runneth over, through sheer delight, and with water.
Today’s water practice standards will not be adequate for the future. California demands a lot of water for our vast agricultural areas and large population. A poor balance of supply and demand is California’s most fundamental water problem. Our continued reliance on water transfers as a way to solve our water needs is similar to watching a lake slowly evaporate. We need innovation. The panel will focus on water conservation practices such as implementing greywater systems within homes, stormwater capture, and the water rights issues surrounding our water usage. 
 

Moderator

Dave Owen
Hastings College of Law, Professor

Panelists

Noelle Patterson
State Water Resources Control Board, Water
​Resources Engineer
Aaron Ferguson
Somach Simmons & Dunn, Associate Attorney
Anya Kamenskaya
DIG Cooperative, Chief Financial Officer

Water-Energy Nexus and the New Normal

 UC Hastings College of Law
This panel will focus on competing water uses and water management in the context of energy. Topics will cover the California Energy Commission’s hierarchy of water management, the proposed relicensing of the Don Pedro Project and La Grange Dam, and the right to use water for fracking. 

Moderator

Professor Paul Kibel
Golden Gate University School of Law, Professor

Panelists

Julie Gatenbien
Water and Power Law Group, Attorney
Wes Miliband
Stoel Rives, Of Counsel
Jared Babula
California Energy Commission,
​Senior Staff Counsel

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Host Sponsor
  • University of San Francisco
Participant Schools
  • UC Berkeley School of Law
    ​Golden Gate University
  • University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law
  • UC Davis School of Law
  • UC Hasting College of Law
Advertising Sponsor
  • Maven's Notebook
  • The Bar Association of San Francisco
  • McCarthy Center For Public Service and the
    ​Common Good
  • University of San Francisco
Keynote Sponsors
  • ​Briscoe Ivester & Bazel LLP
Symposium Sponsors
  • Stoel Rives LLP
  • Water and Power Law Group PC
Panel Sponsors
  • Hanson Bridgett
  • Schneider & Harris LLP
  • RMM
  • Somach Simmons & Dunn
  • Downey Brand LLP Ellison
  • Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard
Contributing Sponsors
  • University of San Francisco Master of Science
    ​in Environmental Management
  • Rossmann and Moore
  • Cline Family Cellars
  • Fort Point Beer Co.
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  • Home
  • About
    • Symposium Chairs
    • Panel Chairs
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  • Program
    • Agenda
    • Panel Descriptions & MCLE
  • Parking and Transportation
  • Writing Prize
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