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The San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary Water Quality Control Plan (Bay-Delta Plan) is currently undergoing its periodic review of updates and amendments by the State Water Resources Control Board ... read more
We have an opening for an experienced legal secretary with a minimum three years of civil litigation experience, with water court litigation and public agency experience a plus. Qualified candidates ... read more
For three days last week, the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) hosted its members – over 460 public water agencies collectively delivering approximately 90 percent of the water throughout ... read more
The Colorado General Assembly adjourned its 2023 legislative session on May 8, 2023. Below is a highlight summary of water-related legislation passed by the General Assembly. Of the bills passed, ... read more
Controversy over the Clean Water Act definition of “waters of the United States” persists as the Biden Administration’s new rule goes into effect in 24 states, but is enjoined in ... read more
Our Somach Simmons & Dunn attorneys are sharing their expertise throughout the second quarter of 2023. #SomachSpeaks - Events & Activities in Q2 2023 June 8 - 9, Boulder, CO: ... read more
On April 4, 2023, the Santa Clara County Superior Court ordered the State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) to reimburse a group of California irrigation districts and water agencies ... read more
Federal and state legislatures and agencies have increasingly focused action to address concerns about the significant risks to human health and the environment from so-called “forever chemicals” known more widely ... read more
In furtherance of its efforts to address the considerable challenges related to water scarcity in the West, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) unveiled the Western Water and Working Lands ... read more
On February 27, 2023, the Court of Appeal for the Second Appellate District (Court of Appeal) affirmed in part and reversed in part the Los Angeles Superior Court’s decision in ... read more
On February 28, 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a Proclamation declaring the end of the COVID-19 State of Emergency. With this action, flexibility regarding the ability of public agencies to ... read more
On February 21, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Ninth Circuit) issued its decision in American Rivers v. American Petroleum Institute, Case No. 21-16958, reversing ... read more
On February 6, 2023, the District Court for the Northern District of California issued its order on pending motions for summary judgment in Yurok Tribe, et al. v. U.S. Bureau ... read more
Effective January 1, 2023, the California Public Records Act (CPRA) has a new location within the Government Code, complete with relabeled organizational headings that improve navigating the statute. The Legislature ... read more
On January 18, 2023, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the Army (collectively, the “Agencies”) finalized a rule (2023 Rule) redefining how the Agencies interpret ... read more
We are pleased to announce the elevation of Michelle E. Chester to shareholder, effective January 1, 2023. “Michelle has been integral to the firm since joining us in 2017,” said ... read more
[UPDATE – MARCH 6, 2023 – THIS POSITION IS CLOSED] We have an opening for an experienced legal secretary with a minimum three years of civil litigation experience, with water ... read more
Our Somach Simmons & Dunn attorneys are sharing their expertise throughout the first quarter of 2023. #SomachSpeaks - Events & Activities in Q1 2023 February 23, Sacramento, CA: Michelle Chester presents ... read more
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), which requires local agencies to form Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs) to adopt Groundwater Sustainability Plans (GSPs) to ensure sustainable groundwater management in all high- ... read more
Somach Simmons & Dunn shareholders Sarah Klahn, Ramsey Kropf, and Kristin Moseley were named among “Denver's Top Lawyers 2023,” published by 5280 Magazine, which recognizes the best lawyers in the ... read more
The firm’s growth continues as we celebrate the many professional achievements of our dedicated, hard-working attorneys and staff, some of which are detailed below. With the closing of the year, ... read more
The California Environmental Quality Act can be a challenge for those attempting to operate in accordance with its myriad procedural directives. Frequent legislative updates and shifts in judicial interpretation of ... read more
Somach Simmons & Dunn welcomes three talented associates to the firm’s Sacramento and Boulder offices. Kendra Hartmann, Kelly Doyle, and Max Bricker will provide experience and strength for key client ... read more
It is no secret that the Colorado River Basin, and the western United States generally, have been facing historically dry conditions this century. Federal, state, and local agencies across the ... read more
The California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted the Statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order (General Order) Reissuance at its December 6, 2022 meeting. As reported in ... read more