Facing Drought in Prior Appropriation Systems

Topic:

With the weather patterns changing and traditional water sources becoming over drawn and taxed, prior appropriation systems are sometimes limited in their water management beyond, first in time, first in right.  This webinar will explore the consequence of drought declarations in prior appropriation systems while considering some tools states have implemented to assist water users. We will look at agency expedited review processes, preferred uses, and the use of agreements to circumvent direct curtailment of water use.  Finally, we will note some creative solutions that are being discussed.

Time and Date:

   

 Wednesday, May 18, 2022

12:00 – 1:00 (EDT)

Participation:

View a recording of the webinar here

Presenters:

Therese Stix is a shareholder and managing partner at Schroeder Law Offices P.C. Therese practices law and litigates in both administrative and judicial forums at the state and federal levels in Nevada and Oregon.  She focuses her practice in areas including agriculture, water use permitting, extensions, transfers; groundwater interference and connection, critical and limited areas; special patron rights and responsibilities, agri-business and litigation.  Therese earned her J.D. from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2006 and returned to Oregon and Nevada to continue her legal work in water and natural resources.  Therese has worked for Schroeder Law Offices both full and part time since 1993 as project assistant, paralegal and law clerk. She joined the firm as an attorney in 2006, became managing attorney in 2010, and shareholder in 2013.

Laura A. Schroeder is an Oregon native, born and raised in the small agricultural area of Vale, Oregon. She earned her B.A. in 1972 from the University of Oregon and her J.D. in 1987 from Northwestern School of Law, Lewis & Clark College. She is admitted to practice law in State and Federal Courts in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Washington and Utah as well as the U. S. Supreme Court. Laura began her private practice with her father, William F. Schroeder, in Vale. She started her own firm in 1991 to better serve the needs of her clients involved in water resource matters.

Long respected in the water rights (water quantity) arena, representing businesses and municipalities in transactional and litigation matters, Laura’s practice includes water rights acquisitions, sales, contracts, easements, well share and water delivery agreements, adjudications, permitting, extensions, transfers, certification, regulatory compliance and litigation of water rights disputes before state administrative bodies as well as State and Federal trial and appellate courts.

In addition to her private practice, Laura continues to provide consulting advice internationally on water law development and negotiations within and between countries in water allocation, development and management. Laura’s international water law experience has included several trips to Armenia to consult on agricultural policy legislation; and to Afghanistan to present training programs in public administration and governance for the Afghan Water Ministry in Kabul where she was occasionally required to travel hunkered down on the floor in the back seat of a car with bodyguard drivers at the wheel.