National Ag Law Center launches ‘Western Water’ Webinar Series with groundwater recharge presentation
"Issues that impact water, including groundwater, impact all of agriculture." — Harrison Pittman
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
June 4, 2024
Fast facts:
- Groundwater recharge is the topic of NALC’s June 19 webinar
- Presentation is first installment in “Western Water” Webinar Series
- Registration is online
(408 words)
Download related photo of Cameron
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Streams, ponds and lakes may be what come to mind when considering
natural water sources, but one water supply that plays a crucial role in agriculture
is located out of sight: Groundwater.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, groundwater is one of the nation’s most important natural resources, supplying about
37 percent of water that county and city water departments supply to households and
businesses. It also provides drinking water to more than 90 percent of the rural population.
Because agriculture in the Western U.S. is often faced with challenges to water resources,
groundwater levels become especially significant.
“Water is one of the most critical topics to monitor regarding Western agriculture,”
Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agricultural Law Center, said. “Issues
that impact water, including groundwater, impact all of agriculture. Out West, issues
of drought, water quality, and more are not uncommon.”
“Groundwater recharge” — the movement of water from the surface to underground aquifers
— is essential to resource sustainability. Drought, overuse and other factors can
slow or stop that process. However, projects designed to foster effective groundwater
recharge have been steadily emerging in the West. According to the California Department of Water Resources, groundwater recharge can be initiated “by diverting and conveying water to engineered
infiltration ponds, spreading basins, flooding of agricultural lands, and injection
wells.” These developments have legal consequences that extend far beyond the purchase
of the property itself.
These legal considerations will be the focus of the NALC’s next webinar, “Groundwater
Recharge: Legal and Strategic Considerations of Project Development,” presented by
David Cameron, partner at California law firm Hanson Bridgett LLP. The presentation marks the first installment in the NALC’s “Western Water” Webinar
Series, part of its long-term effort of expanding resources and partners to the Western
U.S.
“Groundwater recharge, from a legal perspective, involves a complex interplay of regulatory
frameworks, property rights, environmental considerations and financial constraints,”
Cameron said. “This webinar will highlight many of these issues, including water right
constraints, water quality concerns, storage considerations and competing stakeholder
interests related to project development.”
The webinar will be held June 19 at 11 a.m. Central/Noon Eastern. Registration is
no cost and available online.
“This new series on ‘Western Water’ will feature invaluable speakers and insight into
crucial topics for Western U.S. agriculture,” Pittman said. “David brings much expertise
in water law. He’s a great presenter to kick off this new series, and groundwater
recharge projects are an important topic to cover.”
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.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu