Acquiring & Protecting Valuable Water Rights & Resources
Competing and increasing demands are being placed upon a limited water supply by cities, industry, farms, tribes, recreation, fish, and wildlife. While water in Pacific Northwest rivers, streams, and aquifers may seem plentiful, current and projected uses here and in many other parts of the country mean that adequate water supplies will be difficult to maintain. In this resource-constrained environment, we help our clients navigate through water controversies involving in-stream flows for endangered species, federal and tribal reserved rights, and water needed to support alternative energy projects.
Marten’s water law team helps a broad range clients—including landowners, agricultural and industrial businesses, developers, water suppliers, governments, and lenders—avoid, manage, and resolve complex disputes over rights to surface and groundwater resources. We have successfully handled challenges to water rights before administrative hearings boards and in court including water right adjudications. Marten can identify, analyze, and implement the plans clients need to obtain, use, and preserve water sufficient to meet their needs—whether by water contracts, watershed planning, general stream adjudication, water right litigation, well licensing, mitigation, or municipal water system development.
Capabilities:
- Water Right Acquisitions, Changes, Transfers, Leases, and Trusts
- Water Audits and Appraisals
- Endangered Species Act Analysis, Audits, and Compliance
- Water Rights Adjudications
- Federal Reserved and Tribal Rights
- Water Rights Litigation
- Mitigation
- Bureau of Reclamation Water Contracts
- Water Rights Relinquishment
- Municipal Water System Development
- Rainwater Harvesting
- Takings Claims
- Water Well Permits
- Irrigation Issues
- Dams, Reservoirs, and Hydroelectric Operations
- Watershed Planning
