Legal Alert

Ninth Circuit Affirms Reclamation’s Central Valley Project Contract Conversions under the Water Infrastructure Investment for the Nation Act

On August 17, 2026, a unanimous panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a years-long challenge to the United States Bureau of Reclamation’s (“Reclamation”) conversion of certain federal water service contracts, granting a significant win to the municipal and irrigation contractors relying on those agreements to provide water to cities and farms across…

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Blogs

September 22, 2026
Newsom Declares State of Emergency Ahead of Potentially Historic El Niño — What It Means for Flood Preparedness
The Levee Was Dry
September 17, 2026
El Niño: Plenty of Hype, Plenty of Uncertainty
The Levee Was Dry
September 14, 2026
Data Centers and Water Supply in California: Issues to Address Early in Project Development
The Levee Was Dry
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Legal Alerts

March 9, 2026
Second District Court of Appeal Affirms Judgment in California’s First Comprehensive Groundwater Adjudication
November 19, 2025
California Public Utilities Commission Stretches Out the Reimbursement Period for Data Center’s Energization Costs to Reduce Ratepayer Risk
August 15, 2025
California Supreme Court Overrules Chevron-like Deference For Review of Decisions of California Public Utilities Commission
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Publications

January 2026
U.S. EPA and The Department of the Army Offer Proposed Rule Redefining ‘Waters of the United States’
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 36, Number 4
January 2026
California State Water Board Recirculates Revised Draft Staff Report and Substitute Environmental Document for Proposed Update to Bay Delta Plan
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 36, Number 4
December 2025
Suisun City Accepts California Forever’s Application for the Suisun Expansion Project
California Water Law & Policy Reporter, Volume 36, Number 3
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Announcements

August 20, 2026
Downey Brand Named a 2026 Best Place to Work by Sacramento Business Journal
August 21, 2026
Downey Brand Welcomes Nick Frey to the Firm’s Business and Tax Team
August 20, 2026
Best Lawyers® 2027 Recognizes 32 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
Six up-and-coming lawyers were recognized as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®
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In the News

June 2, 2025
Life after the Potter Valley Project: Making New Alliances to Ensure Water For the Future
Ukiah Daily Journal
May 5, 2025
If Trump Really Wants to Reopen Alcatraz, He’ll Go Up Against Environmental Laws
The Mercury News
April 30, 2025
Take It to the Bank: Session at Annual Western Conference to Discuss Water Banking, Leasing
National Agricultural Law Center - University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
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Speaking Engagements/Events

August 26, 2026
When River Management Creates Legal Ripples: Lessons from Ideker Farms
Speaker, National Waterways Conference Annual Meeting 2026
July 14, 2026
Protecting Your Agency: Litigation Preparedness and Regulatory Updates in a Changing Legal Landscape
Panelist, 2026 NAFSMA Annual Meeting
May 21, 2026
Emerging Developments in Surface and Groundwater Management
Speaker, Sacramento County Bar Association - Environmental Law Section, MCLE Webinar
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