By Drew Viguet, NALC Communications & Special Projects Coordinator

Agriculture in the Western U.S. is confronted with unique legal and policy issues specific to the region, many of which feature a constant element — water.

With no shortage of water issues and topics in the Western part of the country, it’s only fitting to feature water law prominently at the 3^rd Annual Western Water, Agriculture, and Environmental Law Conference. At the conference, which is hosted by the National Agricultural Law Center and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) Foundation, attendees will have the opportunity to hear several presentations focused around various types of water law.

“Water is vital to agriculture,” said NALC Director Harrison Pittman. “From evolving state and federal regulations, to drought, to water banking and leasing, there is no shortage of legal and policy topics to discuss when it comes to water and agriculture. We’re thankful to have water law experts from the West as a part of our speaker lineup for the 3^rd Annual Western.”

The water law-focused sessions and speakers for this year’s Western conference include:

• Western Water, Ag, & Food: Perspectives from State Departments of Agriculture
  • Christy Clark, Director, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
  • JJ. Goicoechea, DVM, Director, Nevada Department of Agriculture
  • Jeff Witte, Director/Secretary, New Mexico Department of Agriculture
  • (Moderator) Wes Ward, Secretary, Arkansas Department of Agriculture; President, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

• Deadlines Matter & the Two-Year Clock is Ticking: The Fate of the Colorado River & Future of Ag
  • James Eklund, Partner & Leader of Water and Natural Resources Practice Area, Taft Law
  • Hannah Mink, Associate, Taft Law

• Water Banking and Leasing in the West: Practical Pointers and Pitfalls
  • Ernest Conant, Counsel, Downey Brand LLP
  • Alyssa A. Moir, Partner, K&L Gates
  • Emily E. Lewis, Partner, Culp & Kelly

• WOTUS & Water Quality in the West in a Post-Sackett World
  • Tess Dunham, Partner, Kahn, Soares, & Conway, LLP

Pittman emphasized that the Western Conference is designed for attorneys, students, policymakers, producers, and more.

“You don’t have to be an attorney to attend and get something out of our conferences,” he said. “These are premier educational and networking events, designed for those all across the country involved in agriculture. Whether you have been in the industry for years or are just looking to get started, we hope you will consider attending.”

The Western Conference will be held June 19-20 in Reno, Nevada, at the Peppermill Resort Spa Casino. A livestream option is available. The two-day conference has been approved for continuing education credits, including ethics credits, through numerous legal and professional organizations.

More information and registration is available at nationalaglawcenter.org/western2025.

Two weeks prior to the Western, the NALC and NASDA Foundation will host the 12^th Annual Mid-South Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference in Memphis, Tennessee. More information and registration for that program is available at nationalaglawcenter.org/midsouth2025.

Looking for water law resources?

The NALC has numerous resources on water law topics available on its website, including:

• Water Law Reading Room
• Publications: Water Law
• Publications: Clean Water Act
• “Western Water” Webinar Series recordings:
  • Western Water Law in Action: A Primer on Basic Concepts of the Prior Appropriation Doctrine and How Utah is Modifying Water Law to Meet Modern Demands
  • “Groundwater Recharge: Legal and Strategic Considerations of Project Development

Connect with the NALC

Stay tuned to the NALC website and social media accounts (Facebook, LinkedIn, and X) for updates on upcoming conferences and other opportunities. Information on NALC email communications, including webinar alerts, the Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed newsletter, is available here.