February 23, 2016 AWRA-WA Dinner Meeting
Ivar’s Salmon House on Lake Union
Dinner Presentation – Update on Recent Court Cases: The New Rules on Water Availability as Defined by Washington Courts and Legislative Response
Dan Von Seggern, Staff Attorney, Center for Environmental Law & Policy (CELP)
As last summer’s drought shows, our water supply depends on precipitation that is increasingly uncertain in the face of climate change. Washington law requires protection of instream flows that will support fish and wildlife as well as recreational and aesthetic values. The reality of climate change demands that we plan for increasing uncertainty in water supply. Pressure from development has resulted in increased conflict among water uses, and several recent court decisions will have broad effects on how water is allocated. This presentation will review fundamental principles of Western water law, and discuss the recent Washington Supreme Court decisions in Swinomish v. Ecology and Foster v. Ecology, which reaffirmed protections for instream flows and wildlife, as well as their implications for water users. Finally, actions taken by this year’s Legislature will be discussed.
Dan Von Seggern is a staff attorney at CELP, working on legal matters involving water use, conservation, and planning as well as on state water policy. After graduating from the University of Washington Law School in 2007, he worked as a public defender and in civil litigation, joining CELP in 2015. Prior to his legal career, Dan spent 20 years working in chemistry, molecular biology and gene therapy. Dan is a member of the Washington State Bar Association.
Event Details:
February 23, 2016
Social 5:30 - 6:30
Dinner 6:30 - 7:00
Presentation 7:00 - 8:00
LOCATION - Ivar’s Salmon House on Lake Union 401 NE Northlake Way Seattle, Washington (206) 632-0767
Member: $30
Non-Members: $40
Cancellation Policy: AWRA-WA will fully refund the registration fee if cancellation notice is received within 5 days of the event.
