Somach Simmons & Dunn | Attorneys at Law
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Somach Simmons & Dunn recently welcomed attorney Eric W. Davis back to the firm. Eric is an environmental and public law attorney whose practice is informed by his years of ... read more
Most Colorado water users understand that water rights are valuable property rights—but many do not realize how quickly those rights can be affected if you fail to act when someone ... read more
On September 5, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Ninth Circuit) issued its decision in Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations v. Nickels, Case No. ... read more
SSD Environmental Alerts in 2023 and 2024 reported on the Idaho Department of Water Resources’ (IDWR) administration of the Surface Water Coalition’s (SWC) delivery call on Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer ... read more
The Colorado General Assembly convened its 2025 legislative session January 8, 2025, and adjourned on May 7, 2025. Below is a highlight summary of water-related legislation passed by the General Assembly and ... read more
On July 24, 2025, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) staff released a revised draft of proposed updates (2025 Draft Update) to the Water Quality Control Plan ... read more
On June 30, 2025, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills into law that have substantially modified the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to, in large part, increase housing development ... read more
A tributary well field is not defined in the Colorado Water Code. However, water courts have entered decrees allowing for the designation of tributary well fields. In general, a conditional ... read more
Stuart Somach, Andrew Hitchings, Nicholas Jacobs and Brittany Johnson have been recognized as 2025 Northern California Super Lawyers, and Casey Shorrock has been named a Rising Star. According to the ... read more
Somach Simmons & Dunn welcomes attorney Yosef Negose to its Sacramento office. A UC Berkeley Law graduate, he brings over a decade of experience in the U.S. Department of Justice ... read more
Case Overview NEPA implementation is evolving. And change is dominating the conversation — as colleagues previously reported. Recently, in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County, Colorado (Seven County), the ... read more
On May 22, 2025, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Board) provided notice of an additional 15-day written comment period on its proposed revisions to the water measurement and ... read more
On May 5, 2025, the Fresno County Superior Court ruled that the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) exceeded its statutory authority in issuing a cease-and-desist order ... read more
On April 2, 2025, the Fifth District Court of Appeal issued its Opinion in Bring Back the Kern v. City of Bakersfield, Case No. F087487, reversing the Kern County Superior ... read more
Colorado-based Somach, Simmons & Dunn attorney, Ryan Mitchell, has been admitted to the State Bar of Arizona. Combined with his work in Colorado, his recent Arizona admission continues to expand his ... read more
Nestled among the Rocky Mountains, Colorado is home to a natural treasure that has captivated visitors and locals for centuries: geothermal hot springs. From the tranquil waters of ancient geothermal ... read more
They are not few and far between—rather, the vast majority of rivers in Colorado (or at least large reaches therein) have been designated as over-appropriated. This year, Colorado’s White River ... read more
In a split decision in City and County of San Francisco, California v. Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Supreme Court held the Clean Water Act (CWA) does not authorize ... read more
Come gather ‘round people, wherever you roam… The nation’s two oldest comprehensive environmental protection laws are being, or perhaps poised to be, dramatically redrawn. Right around the same time that ... read more
Water law attorney Lindsey Ratcliff has joined Somach, Simmons & Dunn’s Colorado office. Lindsey provides legal advice regarding water rights litigation and transactions to municipalities, local governments, conservation districts, special ... read more
In California, a levy, charge, or exaction imposed by a local government is an unconstitutional and invalid tax if it does not qualify as one of seven enumerated tax exceptions ... read more
On January 23, 2025, the Delta Stewardship Council (Council) adopted a 33-page decision (“Decision” or “D20242”) regarding the California Department of Water Resources’ (DWR) Certification of Consistency (Certification) with the ... read more
We are excited to announce that attorney Louinda V. Lacey has been elevated to the role of Shareholder at Somach, Simmons & Dunn. Louinda joined the firm in 2024 as ... read more
Introduction A recent decision from the Sixth District Court of Appeal in Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District v. Buena Vista Water Storage District, et al. (Dec. 23, 2024, H051858) (nonpub. ... read more
Attorney Emily Lovell has joined Somach, Simmons and Dunn's Sacramento office. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems from UC Davis and her Juris Doctorate from ... read more
