Friday, August 27: Using Legal Resources to Protect Sierra Resources
This conference day, organized by attorneys volunteering with the Sierra Legal Service Committee at the Sierra Nevada Alliance and sponsored by Chatten-Brown & Carstens, is focused on the laws and regulations of local governments, California and the nation and how they can be used to protect water, habitat, land use, climate change and rural community quality of life.
MCLE credit will be available to California Attorneys. More details forthcoming.
9:15 - Welcome
9:15-10:45: Session 1 Workshops
State Water laws and regulations. Panelists will cover laws governing water rights (surface water and groundwater), water supply assessments for new developments, water supply agencies, water quality protection under the State Clean Water Act, the Public Trust doctrine, and in-stream flow requirements. Sponsored by Lippe Gaffney Wagner
Panelists
Harrison C. ("Hap") Dunning, Professor of Law Emeritus at UC Davis, who has been involved with water policy reform efforts since the late 1970s.
Roger Moore, Partner, Rossman & Moore.
Lynne Saxton, Attorney, Environmental Law Foundation.
Habitat within Humanity. Endangered Species Law,
Conservation Plans, and Other Mechanisms for Ensuring Long Term
Landscapes. Panelists will discuss the use of habitat preservation laws
to protect the natural landscapes of the Sierra. Panelists will discuss
both the state and federal Endangered Species Acts, Habitat Conservation
Plans (HCPs) & Natural Community Conservation Plans (NCCPs), the
Migratory Bird Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and
other state and federal protections for wildlife. Sponsored by Environment NOW
Panelists
Lisa Belenky, Senior Attorney, Center for Biological Diversity. Lisa, focuses on protecting rare and endangered species and their habitats under state and federal law.
Brendan Cummings, Public Lands Director, Center for Biological Diversity, works to ensure that public lands are managed for the benefit of species and ecosystems in a warming climate.
Justin Augustine, Staff Attorney, Center for Biological Diversity, works on endangered species and forest issues.
10:45-11:00: Break
11:00-12:30: Session 2 Workshops
Local Laws for Lasting Protections. General Plans, Climate Change and Land Use Initiatives: This panel will explain how to use city and county General Plans and zoning ordinances to promote sustainable communities and protect the natural and working landscapes of the Sierra. Panelists will discuss laws governing local General Plan and zoning ordinances, provide updates on state requirements for collaborative regional planning to combat climate change and promote sustainable development, and explain how to use California's powerful initiative and referendum process to advance your land use goals. Sponsored by Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP
Panelists
Susan Durbin, a Deputy Attorney General in the California Attorney General's office, advises and represents State agencies on wide range of issues, including land use, CEQA, Proposition 65, utility regulation, Clean Air Acts, and hazardous waste and hazardous substances control statutes.
Rachel Hooper, a partner at Shute Mihaly & Weinberger LLP, represents environmental groups drafting land use initiatives and referenda of local land use decisions, and in litigation involving CEQA, NEPA, and the Planning & Zoning Law.
Damon Nagami, an attorney with the Natural Resources Defense Council, who works on sustainable land use, transportation, and open space and wildlife habitat preservation issues in and around Southern California.
Richard Taylor, a partner at Shute Mihaly & Weinberger LLP, represents community groups and public agencies in connection with complex land use matters, land use initiatives and referenda, open government laws, CEQA, NEPA, and open space acquisition and preservation.
Water Transfer Wars. Veteran water transfer and pollution warriors Bill Jennings, Michael Jackson and Barbara Vlamis will discuss their views on the state and federal agencies' efforts to perpetuate the myth of "regulatory drought" in California, and the responses, both at the administrative level and in the courts, by a coalition of environmental organizations: the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance, the California Water Impact Network and AquAlliance. Moderator will be Keith G. Wagner, Lippe Gaffney Wagner LLP.
Panelists
Bill Jennings, Chairman/Executive Director, California Sportfishing Protection Alliance.
Michael B. Jackson, Attorney.
Barbara Vlamis, Executive Director, AquAlliance.
12:30 - 1:30 Lunch
1:30 - 3:30 Session 3 Workshops
CEQA: Opportunities & Challenges. Explore what were the legislature's goals in passing the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Review the basic elements of CEQA and learn how to be effective in the administrative process. Hear about the importance of political/grass-roots/mobilizing and media to persuading decisionmaker and influencing judges. This panel will also review Timber Harvest Plan litigation, pending legislation and initiatives that will impact CEQA.
Panelists
Moderator: Douglas P. Carstens, a partner at Chatten-Brown & Carstens. The firm represents environmental and community groups in administrative process and litigation involving CEQA, NEPA, endangered species laws, the Clean Water Act, and other state and federal laws. It also represents public agencies in challenges to projects proposed by other agencies.
Tom Lippe, partner in the firm of Lippe Gaffney Wagner LLP. The firm specializes in environmental litigation, including land use, forest practices, water rights, water pollution, endangered species, vineyard conversions and toxics, by enforcing a variety of laws, including CEQA, NEPA, ESA, the California Coastal Act, the California Water Code, California Planning and Zoning Law, and others. The firm also advises clients regarding environmental policy and legislation. Tom has litigated numerous CEQA cases, including dozens of cases challenging timber harvest projects.
Winter King, an associate at Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP. Winter's practice areas include CEQA litigation and compliance, Indian law, and general plan and zoning law.
Jan Chatten-Brown is the founder of Chatten-Brown & Carstens. Jan is also a Board member and past President of the Sierra Nevada Alliance, and serves as a Vice President of the Planning & Conservation League.
3:30-3:40 Break
3:40-5:00: Attorney Meet & Greet: This is an opportunity for activists to fill out a new intake form, meet attorneys who may be able to help them, and/or ask further questions/advice.
10:00-Noon: Member Group Reports and Sierra Nevada Alliance Annual Meeting Get a quick update from the Alliance and briefly elect board members. Then hear quick and inspiring reports from Sierra Nevada Alliance member groups on what they have accomplished and what they're doing next to protect and restore Sierra lands, water, wildlife and communities. Sponsored by Legacy Life Giving
Noon-1:30: BBQ & Silent Auction. Enjoy Tahoe in the summer with new and old friends. Meat options are available for the non-vegetarians. Make silent bids on art, recreational equipment, trips, and other desirable and sometimes wacky items. Auction proceeds help cover conference costs. Sponsored by Camp Lotus
1:30-3:20: Saturday Session Workshops
Sierra Water Trust: Identifying Instream Flow Needs.
The
focus of this workshop is to get participants to broaden their understanding of
watershed health beyond traditional parameters of water quality to include
in-stream flow. The quantity and timing of stream flow has been called "the
master variable" -- the one which controls all other aspects of river health.
Come learn how to monitor stream flow and assess in-stream flow needs in your
watershed, and how this information relates to riverine ecology and watershed
health. The
workshop will consist of both a classroom and a field component. In the
classroom, we will introduce you to the Sierra Water Trust Project, which is
aimed at facilitating the use of river science in managing and monitoring water
rights acquisitions, as well as introduce concepts relating to: 1) collection
and interpretation of stream flow data, interpretation of hydrographs,
development of rating curves, and also 2) methodologies for assessing instream flow
needs in river systems using hydrological data. In the field, you will learn practical
skills like building solid cross sections and measuring flow with a manual flow
meter - skills that you can use to monitor flow in your watershed.
**NOTE: This workshop is FREE and is 3 hours from 1:30 to 4:30. Limited to 25 so sign up now! Sponsored by California Trout Eastern Sierra Program
Social and Economic Indicators: New Tools to Demonstrate Watershed Conservation Success and Benefits. As Sierra communities continue to grow resource managers, planners and community members are constantly challenged by the need to demonstrate the success and long-term benefits of watershed projects. One aspect of this challenge is deciding how much and what types of new development the community can accommodate without compromising watersheds, wildlife and the day-to-day quality of life for residents. Recently, a pilot project in Mariposa County has worked to develop social and economic indicators to demonstrate how watershed projects balance environmental, economic, fiscal, cultural and social goals. Measuring socioeconomic indicators can assist communities in making decisions that promote long-term sustainability, healthy environments and communities, economic prosperity and social well-being. Come hear about the project in Mariposa County and how the new indicators for watershed work may be used to increase state investment in Sierra watersheds. Sponsored by The Sierra Fund
Reality Grantmaking!! Come be a fly-on-the-wall at an actual grantmaking decision with a panel of veteran funders who will deliberate on a pool of applications and award $1,000 to the wining applicant at the end of the session. After hearing the grantmakers discuss the pros & cons of the proposals, there will be a lively Q & A with the audience about what makes a compelling and fundable proposal. The workshop is open to everyone with an operating budget of $100,000 or less per year. Applications must be submitted beforehand to have a chance at the grant award. Click here for instructions on how to submit your application to have a shot at the $1,000 grant award! Sponsored by Rose Foundation for the Environment
Panelists
Tim Little, Rose Foundation Pam Allen, Goldman Foundation Steve Hagler, Pacific Forest & Watershed Lands Stewardship Council
3:20-3:30: Closing Remarks by Alliance past President Terry Manning
Registration Information Please register for each day. Registration is available through this invitation, online at www.sierranevadaalliance.org or by phone: 530-542-4546 x 301. Online registration takes both credit card and check by mail.
Friday, August 27 (includes lunch)
$25 for Alliance members and also members of Member Groups $35 for non-members $125 for attorneys receiving MCLE credit
Saturday, August 28 (includes BBQ lunch)
$30 for Alliance members and also members of Member Groups $35 for non-members
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