Joseph S. Schofield

Counsel

621 Capitol Mall
18th Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Areas of Law:

Water

Admitted to Practice in:

California

Experience

Joseph Schofield is a member of the firm's water practice group. His practice focuses on water rights, environmental and natural resources, and local government law. He represents public and private sector clients in a broad range of water-related matters including litigation, permitting, administrative proceedings and water transfers.

Mr. Schofield has represented clients before the State Water Resources Control Board on water right applications, change petitions, wastewater change petitions, and complaints to halt unlawful diversion of water. He has also worked on relicensing hydroelectric facilities before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and obtaining streambed alteration agreements from the Department of Fish and Game. Mr. Schofield has litigated cases defending local agencies' special benefit assessments for water projects, seeking to invalidate State regulations, defending an inverse condemnation action, seeking a declaration of water treatment and delivery obligations pursuant to contract, contesting export of water from fully appropriated groundwater basin, and challenging insurance policy settlement practices.

Mr. Schofield counsels local government districts on governance matters, local property disputes, Brown Act and Public Records Act issues, flood control, and levying of fees and assessments. He also conducts analysis of water rights and water rights compliance on complex stream systems.

Representative Clients
Sacramento Municipal Utility District, Monterey County Water Resources Agency, Calaveras County Water District, Southern Nevada Water Authority, North Delta Water Agency, Black Rock City LLC, Modesto Irrigation District, City of Turlock, Fallbrook Public Utility District, Reclamation District No. 3.

MEMBERSHIPS

State Bar of California, Real Property Section, Member

Sacramento County Bar Association, Real Property Section, Member

American Bar Association, Natural Resources, Energy and Environmental Law Sections, Member

United States District Court for the Central District of California; United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Admitted to Practice

EDUCATION

University of California, Davis School of Law (J.D., Law School Medal [Class Rank: 1st]; Order of the Coif; Order of the Barristers, 2002)
Colorado State University (B.A., Natural Resources Journalism, 1994; B.A., English, 1990)

PUBLICATIONS

20 California Water Law & Policy Reporter 195, "The Kern River Fully Appropriated Streams Proceeding: A Study in Law, Policy and Efficiency," April 2010, Author

California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Editorial Board, Member

19 California Water Law & Policy Reporter 63, "2008 California Water Legislation—A Tale of Stalled Bills Poised to Drive the Legislative Agenda in 2009," December 2008, Author

18 California Water Law & Policy Reporter 3, “Clash of Equities: Proposition 218 Squares Off Against Tiered Water Pricing,” December 2007, Author

17 California Water Law & Policy Reporter 8, “Back to the Drawing Board: By Court Order, the State Water Resources Control Board Must Revise Its Invalid Water Right Fees,” May 2006, Author

16 California Water Law & Policy Reporter 4, “Once More with Feeling: With Little to Show in 2005, Water Bills to Watch in 2006,” January 2006, Author

UC Davis Law Review, Former Member

Presentations

North State Building Industry Association CEQA Workshop, “Evolving Issues Regarding CEQA, Water Supply, and Climate Change,” November 2009, Speaker

Urban Land Institute Partnership Forum, “Green Development: Legislative & Regulatory Framework,” April 2009, Panelist

UC Hastings, California Water Law Symposium, "Bay-Delta and Water Policy and Emerging Science: Potential Changes at NMFS and Reclamation," January 2009, Panelist

Northern California Water Association and Downey Brand Ethics Training for Local Agency Officials: “AB 1234: Laws Relating to Personal Financial Gain by Public Servants,” November 2008, Speaker

North State Building Industry Association CEQA Workshop, “Water Availability and Land Use Planning,” Roseville, 2008, Speaker

California Water Law and Policy Conference, “Overview of Regulatory Agencies and Water: The Players and the Practice,” San Francisco, 2008, Speaker

Northern California Water Association and Downey Brand Ethics Training for Local Agency Officials: “AB 1234: Laws Relating to Personal Financial Gain by Public Servants,” November 2006, Speaker

Association of California Water Agencies Continuing Legal Education Workshop for Water Law Professionals, “Tilton v. Reclamation District No. 800,” Incline Village, Nevada, 2006, Speaker

CALAFCO 2006 Staff Workshop, “Water Issues: What Is LAFCO's Role?” South Lake Tahoe, 2006, Speaker.

Northern California Water Association and Downey Brand Ethics Training for Local Agency Officials: “AB 1234: Laws Relating to Personal Financial Gain by Public Servants,” Yuba City, March 2006, Speaker

Northern California Water Association and Downey Brand Ethics Training for Local Agency Officials: “AB 1234: Laws Relating to Personal Financial Gain by Public Servants,” February 2006, Speaker

California Water Law and Policy Conference, “SB 820 Mega Water Bill: A Closer Look,” CLE International, San Diego, 2005, Speaker

University of California, Davis School of Law, Environmental Law Moot Court,

2005-2008, Team Coach