Law Offices of Matthew  Emrick

Russian River Water Rights

The State Water Resources Control Board ("SWRCB") has conducted a multi-year water rights investigation of the Russian River.  It is critical that anyone claiming water rights to the Russian River take measures to confirm and validate any claim to a water right.  The SWRCB has indicated that it is particularily targeting agricultural operations along the Russian River.  One strategy being discussed is to limit the diversions of wineries and other agricultural operations to specific times and seasons.

Bay-Delta Water Rights

The State Water Resources Control Board has estimated there are hundreds of invalid water diversions within the Delta.  The Board has stated that it is putting its full enforcement team to work indentifying and classifying diversions in the Delta. 

Bay-Delta Land Uses

The Department of Water Resources ("DWR"") is in the process of identifying property owners in the Delta with the purpose of determining if their property is suitable for the construction of certain water conveyance facilities to divert water around the Delta from Sacramento to Tracy.

North Coast In-Stream Flows (AB 2121)

The State Water Resources Control Board has adopted a policy that will substantially impact instream flows for new water rights permits and change petitions on the north coast including Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.

Groundwater Classification 

Rights to pump groundwater depend in part on whether the groundwater is classified as percolating or as a subterranean stream. Recent court decisions have impacted the rights to pump groundwater.