Somach Simmons & Dunn | Attorneys at Law
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The 2023 California legislative session concluded on September 14, 2023. This article highlights new bills pertaining to water rights, the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), and emissions on the consumer ... read more
The “Making Conservation a California Way of Life” regulation (Proposed Conservation Regulation) seeks to establish the methods and criteria that large municipal water suppliers must use to calculate their “urban ... read more
We have an opening for an experienced legal secretary with a minimum three years of civil litigation experience, water court litigation experience a definite plus. This individual will work closely ... read more
When purchasing a parcel of land—whether a primary residence, vacation home, industrial complex, or working ranch—the existence or non-existence of water rights, and the characteristics and elements of any such ... read more
On August 4, 2023, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-10-23, the latest in a series of executive orders addressing the impacts of the series of atmospheric rivers that caused a ... read more
#SomachSpeaks － Upcoming Events & Activities December 7, San Francisco, CA: Catch up with Kelley Taber during the 19th Annual CEQA Conference by CLE International. Her panel will address "How to ... read more
California Senate Bill 389 (SB 389) is a legislative effort to increase the State Water Resources Control Board’s (State Water Board) authority over pre-1914 appropriative water rights and riparian water ... read more
Reclamation recently announced that CVP contractors using 2,000 acre-feet or more of water must resume development and submittal of water management plans. The plan, which must address the efficient use ... read more
A feature article published in the 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers magazine showcases Stuart Somach as a leading authority in water law. Known for his ability to navigate complex water-related ... read more
In an opinion with the potential to significantly impact future challenges to agency action – including, notably, challenges to biological opinions prepared in accordance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA) ... read more
We're pleased to recognize a group of Somach Simmons & Dunn attorneys for their inclusion in the 2023 Super Lawyers lists. Honorees are selected through a process that blends feedback from ... read more
Background of the Case: Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency On May 25, 2023, the United States Supreme Court (Supreme Court) issued its decision in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency, et ... read more
On May 1, 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court defined the State Engineer’s authority to enforce terms and conditions of Substitute Water Supply Plans (SWSP). SWSPs are a common tool to ... read more
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
