Water rights, law on agenda for June 13-14 Western Ag and Environmental Law Conference
“The Western agricultural industry is confronted with a unique body of legal and policy issues, with water issues often at the very top of the list.” — Harrison Pittman
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
May 6, 2024
Fast facts:
- Western Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference set for June 13-14 in Reno, Nevada
- Designed for attorneys, students, and other ag professionals
- Water issues among conference sessions
(372 words)
(Newsrooms: with art)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Instream water rights and the future of irrigated ag. The Klamath
River Basin and the Endangered Species Act. The future of water quality in the West.
Legal ethics and state water boards. Each of these issues and more will be on the
agenda for the National Agricultural Law Center’s 2nd Annual Western Agricultural & Environmental Law Conference, set for June 13-14
in Reno, Nevada.
“The Western agricultural industry is confronted with a unique body of legal and policy
issues, with water issues often at the very top of the list,” said Harrison Pittman,
director of the National Agricultural Law Center. “We’re thrilled that some of the
most respected water law experts in the West will be part of our terrific lineup of
conference sessions.”
The conference, which will be held at the University of Nevada, Reno, will also be livestreamed. A complete conference agenda, as well as conference registration,
is available online.
The Western Conference features 12 hours of continuing legal education credits, including
two hours of ethics. It has been approved for CLE in Nevada and Idaho, and will be
submitted for approval in Oregon, California, Arizona and Utah. It has also been approved
for continuing education from the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers.
The NALC will coordinate with attendees to self-report in other states.
The water law sessions and speakers for the Western include:
- Going With the Flow: Instream Water Rights & the Future of Irrigated Ag
- Merissa Moeller, Associate, Stoel Rives LLP
- The Klamath River Basin & the Endangered Species Act: Implications for Ag in Western States
- Paul Simmons, Special Counsel, Somach Simmons & Dunn
- WOTUS & Water Quality in the West in a Post-Sackett World
- Tess Dunham, Partner, Kahn, Soares & Conway, LLP
- Water Law & Ethics: Sinking and Swimming With Litigation, Water Districts, and Agencies
- Lauren D. Layne, Shareholder, Baker Manock & Jensen
- Joe M. Marchini, Shareholder, Baker Manock & Jensen
Pittman said that Western attendees from a wide variety of backgrounds will benefit
from the information shared at the conference.
“The Western Conference is designed for attorneys and non-attorneys alike,” he said.
“It’s a great learning and networking opportunity for ag professionals, attorneys,
students and more.”
For information about the National Agricultural Law Center, visit nationalaglawcenter.org or follow @Nataglaw on X. The National Agricultural Law Center is also on Facebook and LinkedIn.
For updates on agricultural law and policy developments, subscribe free of charge
to The Feed, the NALC’s twice-monthly newsletter highlighting recent legal developments facing
agriculture.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
The National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s leading source of agricultural
and food law research and information. The NALC works with producers, state and federal
policymakers, Congressional staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, and many
others to provide objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information
to the nation’s agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and
works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural
Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. The Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system through the Agricultural
Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is an equal opportunity/equal
access/affirmative action institution. If you require a reasonable accommodation to
participate or need materials in another format, please contact dviguet@uark.edu as
soon as possible. Dial 711 for Arkansas Relay.
# # #
Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu