Bill has more than 10 years of water rights experience. His practice focuses on helping clients with complex water rights issues including adjudications, litigation, well permitting, water planning, and legislation. Bill’s experience includes securing and changing water rights as well as protecting existing water rights from injury. In this capacity, he has represented a wide array of clients including municipalities, ski resorts, ranch owners, real estate developers, ditch companies, reservoir operators, water districts, and individuals. This varied experience allows Bill to cater his representation to the specific needs of his clients with a focus on practical and efficient solutions.
Water Rights Adjudications. Bill has a wealth of experience helping clients navigate the complexities of Water Court. This includes adjudicating storage and surface water rights, groundwater rights, exchanges, and plans for augmentation. Bill also represents clients in changes of water rights proceedings, which can be particularly contentious because they attract significant opposition and often include challenging legal and engineering issues. Bill has considerable experience representing Water Court “applicants,” which requires unique expertise as the “applicants” in a Water Court proceeding carry the burden of proof. These cases can also involve upwards of 50 opposing parties, which requires skill and experience to manage. Bill’s clients are involved in some of the most complex water cases in Colorado. This experience gives him insight into the direction that water laws are evolving, which helps him steer clients to their desired outcome and away from unnecessary controversy.
Engineering Experience. Prior to law school Bill obtained a B.S. in Civil Engineering and an M.S. in Environmental Engineering, and worked as a drinking water treatment plant operator. This specialized background provides Bill a unique perspective that allows him to more effectively communicate with engineers, geologists, hydrologists, and water resources experts on nuanced areas of water rights law and water resources issues. This is particularly valuable during complex water rights litigation as nearly all major water rights cases require support from expert witnesses. This background also aids Bill in devising creative solutions to assist clients in realizing their goals.
Real Estate and Water Rights Transactions. Bill also assists clients with real estate transactions—particularly those that involve water rights issues. This work includes due diligence for water rights and easements, chain of title research to confirm water rights ownership, and the drafting of deeds, leases, and agreements. Additionally, Bill assists clients with quiet title actions, easement disputes, storm water issues, and other real estate issues. Bill frequently gives presentations to real estate groups regarding the importance of performing water rights diligence.
Water Rights Legislation. Bill routinely participates in the legislative process regarding water rights bills. Bill has experience testifying before legislative committees and has drafted water rights legislation and amendments. He is also a participant in the Colorado Water Congress State Affairs Committee and is actively involved with monitoring, reviewing, and drafting new legislation pertaining to water rights and water resources. Existing water rights frequently come under attack by new legislation both intentionally and inadvertently and Bill works closely with clients to protect their interests
Publications
“Nutrient Standards for Lakes and Reservoirs: Where Water Quality and Water Rights Law Intersect,” Colo. Lawyer, Jan/Feb 2024.
Guest Contributor, “Water Rights for Restoration (Conservation Finance Series, Part 7 of 9),” Western Landowners Alliance, October 2018
"There’s Cologne in the Water: The Inadequacy of U.S. Environmental Statutes to Address Emerging Environmental Contaminants," 21 COLO. J. INT’L ENVTL. L. & POL’Y 521, 2010
"Swimming in Uncertainty: Regulatory Change is Necessary to Address Organic Wastewater Contaminants in Iowa’s Water," Iowa Policy Project, 2009
"Synthetic Musk Fragrances in a Conventional Drinking Water Treatment Plant with Lime Softening," 135 AM. SOC’Y OF CIVIL ENGINEERS J. ENVTL. ENGINEERING 1192, 2009
"Fate of Eight Synthetic Musk Fragrances in a Conventional Water Treatment Facility," International Conference on Analysis of Emerging Contaminants in the Environment, United Kingdom, 2007
"Fate of Eight Synthetic Musk Fragrances in a Conventional Water Treatment Facility," Stockholm University’s Department of Applied Environmental Sciences, Sweden, 2007
Education
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO LAW SCHOOL
Juris Doctor, 2010
UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
M.S., Environmental Engineering, 2007
B.S., Civil Engineering, 2006
Bar Admissions
• Colorado (2010)