

Navigating ever-changing regulations so our clients don’t have to
Dunn Carney regularly responds to client questions relating to the regulation of natural resources. Often, these questions arise in the context of farms, ranches, nurseries, dairies, and timber operations. Our water law attorneys are a critical part of this team, helping our clients deal with water-related transactional matters, litigation, and legislative affairs.
Our Natural Resources Expertise
Water Law
Water issues are broad and so is our expertise in this area. Whether it’s farmers in need of new water rights, businesses needing water for industrial use, homeowners seeking protection of their domestic wells, or ditch companies needing assistance with water supply contracts, we have the ability to help.
Our water law expertise includes:
- Pipeline, well, and other water-access easements
- Purchase, sale and leasing of water rights
- Rotation agreements
- Transfers or changes of water rights
- Water rights adjudication and representation in contested cases
- Water supply agreements
Natural Resources Administration
We are experienced in dealing with administrative law issues and communicating with relevant agencies, including the Oregon Department of Water Resources, Oregon Department of State Lands, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and Washington’s Department of Ecology.
In addition to water law, we often help clients navigate natural resource legal issues such as:
- Conservation easements
- Endangered species
- Leasing and utilizing public lands
- Legislative affairs
- Navigability and public access
- Removal-fill permits
- Regulatory compliance with water quality standards
- Tax deferrals related to special use assessments
- Timber trespass
- Wetland development and mitigation
- Wildlife Resources