2023 Keynote Speaker
The morning Keynote will be delivered by Dr. Rene Henery, California Science Director for Trout Unlimited.
Keynote Speaker's Materials
Equity, Belonging, and Law as a Healing Practice
Keynote Speaker's Materials
Equity, Belonging, and Law as a Healing Practice
Panel 1 - 9:45 AM-11:00 AM
Hydropower & Species
Organized by Golden Gate University School of Law and University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco
Climate change in California is challenging lawyers to develop novel approaches that protect species and balance human interests. This panel focuses on two main issues. First, the panel will examine the impacts of the Central Valley Project’s network of dams on downstream fisheries in the Friant and Shasta Dams. Panelists will address how the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, California Fish & Game Code, and reasonable use law. Second, the panel will also examine how fishery impacts are addressed under the FERC relicensing process for non-federal dams in California.
Climate change in California is challenging lawyers to develop novel approaches that protect species and balance human interests. This panel focuses on two main issues. First, the panel will examine the impacts of the Central Valley Project’s network of dams on downstream fisheries in the Friant and Shasta Dams. Panelists will address how the Endangered Species Act, National Environmental Policy Act, California Fish & Game Code, and reasonable use law. Second, the panel will also examine how fishery impacts are addressed under the FERC relicensing process for non-federal dams in California.
|
Dana Heinrich, CA State Water Resources Control Board
David Rose, CA State Water Resources Control Board Daniel Cooper, Sycamore Law Group; Co-Counsel for San Luis Obispo Coastkeeper Paul Kibel, Professor at GGU; Counsel for Water and Power Law Group [Moderator] |
Panel 2 - 11:15 AM-12:30 PM
Indigenous Peoples, Water Rights, and Species Protection
Organized by University of San Francisco School of Law and UC Davis School of Law
Our panel begins by examining the colonial history that gave rise to California’s unique hybrid water system and shapes Indigenous peoples’ present-day water rights in the Bay Delta context. You will hear from tribal advocates about the impacts of their historical exclusion from California’s water rights system on native species, food security, and cultural survival. The recent approval of the Klamath Dams removal project is a historic coordination effort and one of the most promising salmon recovery opportunities to date. Still, it raises crucial questions: Why did the approval process take so long? What lessons can tribes and future resource managers learn? Finally, to round out the panel will be a forward-looking presentation on water law reform and the tools available to remedy past inequities.
Our panel begins by examining the colonial history that gave rise to California’s unique hybrid water system and shapes Indigenous peoples’ present-day water rights in the Bay Delta context. You will hear from tribal advocates about the impacts of their historical exclusion from California’s water rights system on native species, food security, and cultural survival. The recent approval of the Klamath Dams removal project is a historic coordination effort and one of the most promising salmon recovery opportunities to date. Still, it raises crucial questions: Why did the approval process take so long? What lessons can tribes and future resource managers learn? Finally, to round out the panel will be a forward-looking presentation on water law reform and the tools available to remedy past inequities.
|
Stephanie Safdi, Supervising Attorney, Stanford Environmental Law Clinic
Kate Poole, Senior Director, Water Division NRDC Marianna Aue, Staff Attorney, State Water Board Office of the Chief Counsel Gary Mulcahy, Government Liaison for the Winnemem Wintu Tribe Malissa A. Tayaba, Vice Chair, Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians; Director of Tribe's Traditional Ecological Knowledge Department Margaret Vick, Professor at McGeorge School of Law [Moderator] |
MCLE Materials
Attributes of Federal Indian Reserved Water Rights PPT Reforming California's Inequitable Water Rights System PPT Lower Klamath Project Dam Removal Selected Resources Returning the Water: Water Quality Regulation and Restoration of Instream Flows in California's Bay-Delta PPT Stephanie Safdi Outline of Remarks |
Panel 3 - 1:15 PM-2:30 PM
Agricultural Land Repurposing: A Gentler Way to Reform Agricultural Water Use
Organized by UC Berkeley School of Law and Stanford Law School
Agriculture makes up 80% of California's water use, but agricultural reform has long been left behind in drought management plans. New land repurposing investment programs, collaborations between state agencies and NGOs, promise to transform water-intensive farmlands into wildlife habitat, parks, and water-limited agriculture. But is this enough? Does it focus too much on water and not enough on ecosystems and endangered species? How do farmers and agricultural interests feel about their livelihood being converted? Should they have to agree for the state to alter their land? Should they retain their historic water rights or be required to accept buyouts? And how much help does this offer species in the end?
Agriculture makes up 80% of California's water use, but agricultural reform has long been left behind in drought management plans. New land repurposing investment programs, collaborations between state agencies and NGOs, promise to transform water-intensive farmlands into wildlife habitat, parks, and water-limited agriculture. But is this enough? Does it focus too much on water and not enough on ecosystems and endangered species? How do farmers and agricultural interests feel about their livelihood being converted? Should they have to agree for the state to alter their land? Should they retain their historic water rights or be required to accept buyouts? And how much help does this offer species in the end?
|
Vicky Espinoza, Strategic Restoration Project Manager, The Nature Conservancy
Keali'i Bright, Deputy Secretary for Climate and Energy, CA Natural Resources Agency Rebecca Smith, Downey Brand Felicia Marcus, Stanford University's Water in the West Program; Attorney/Consultant, The Water Policy Group [Moderator] |
Panel 4 - 2:45 PM-4:00 PM
Innovations in Accommodating Water Supply & Species Protection
Organized by University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
This panel will explore innovative approaches to reconciling the diverse needs of water supply and species protection such as voluntary landowner/water right holder agreements and storing water for the environment. Panelists will describe their experiences with voluntary water initiatives, assessing challenges and opportunities, and share their thoughts about directions for the future. The panel will also describe a new approach for managing environmental water in reservoirs which involves assignment of storage rights to environmental water and allowing environmental water managers to adaptively direct the timing and volume of storage releases for the purpose of maximizing environmental benefits.
This panel will explore innovative approaches to reconciling the diverse needs of water supply and species protection such as voluntary landowner/water right holder agreements and storing water for the environment. Panelists will describe their experiences with voluntary water initiatives, assessing challenges and opportunities, and share their thoughts about directions for the future. The panel will also describe a new approach for managing environmental water in reservoirs which involves assignment of storage rights to environmental water and allowing environmental water managers to adaptively direct the timing and volume of storage releases for the purpose of maximizing environmental benefits.
|
Shannon Little, Attorney, Office of the Chief Counsel, Department of Fish and Wildlife
Dr. Sarah Null, Associate Professor at Utah State University Dr. Ada Fowler, Mount Shasta-Klamath Senior Project Manager, Cal Trout Kelley Taber, Attorney, Somach Simmons & Dunn Kaitlin Harr, Attorney, Kronick Moskovitz Tiedemann & Girard [Moderator] |
MCLE Materials
Cutting the Green Tape: Restoration Permitting & CEQA Tools PPT California Department of Fish and Wildlife Initiatives Storing Water for the Environment: Operating Reservoirs to Improve California's Freshwater Ecosystems PPT Policy Brief - Storing Water for the Environment Voluntary Agreements - Shasta Safe Harbor Incidental Take Agreement PPT Ada Fowler Outline of Remarks The Hart Ranch: A Model for Voluntary Conservation Efforts PPT Hart Ranch Voluntary Efforts to Promote Species Conservation Through Exercise of Pre-1914 Water Rights |
MCLE credit hours are provided by University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law
(Provider Number 27)
(Provider Number 27)
Thank You to Our Participating Schools
For more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact waterlawsymposium@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
|
