Program Co-Chairs

Michael J. Pearce is a founding member of his firm, which is dedicated to issues of water law and policy. His practice includes land and mineral development, water transfers, and complex water negotiations and disputes. He was Chief Counsel of the Arizona Department of Water Resources for seven years, and has worked extensively in the Law of the Colorado River. He has chaired CLE International`s Law of the Colorado River Conference since 1999.

Karen Tachiki leads Metropolitan`s legal staff and consulting attorneys; directs its legal strategies in pending and potential litigation; and protects the District`s interests in contracts and other legal matters. She was previously a lead attorney on Colorado River matters for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Keynote Presenter

Anne J. Castle has been in her current position since July 2009. She oversees water and science policy for the Department and has responsibility for the Bureau of Reclamation and the US Geological Survey. She was formerly a partner in the Denver office of Holland & Hart, where her practice included litigation and multi-party negotiations involving water issues, water related transactions and advice on water policy and strategy. She served on the South Platte River Basin Task Force appointed by Colorado Governor Bill Ritter and was twice appointed to the Colorado Ground Water Commission by former Governor Roy Romer. She is the designee of the Secretary of the Interior to the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Work Group.

Faculty

John Penn Carter III, a senior partner, played a significant role in some of his firm`s most notable water rights cases in State and Federal Courts, including the US Supreme Court. He has negotiated numerous water conservation and transfer agreements, including historic agreements with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern CA, the San Diego County Water Authority and the Quantification Settlement Agreements.

Peter W. Culp practices in the environmental, water and natural resources, and federal Indian law areas. His experience includes representing private, public and nonprofit entities in matters related to surface water rights, groundwater rights, state and federal water policy and the Law of the Colorado River.

Ricardo De Leon is the Principal Microbiologist for Metropolitan, a position he has held since 1994. He was previously an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Analysis and Design, University of California at Irvine, and a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Larry R. Dozier is responsible for operations, engineering and planning, and resources. He is primarily responsible for Colorado River issues, recharge programs, environmental compliance, water planning and power resources.

Terry Fulp oversees implementation of the Secretary of the Interior`s water master functions on the lower Colorado River. He has been with Reclamation for 20 years and is actively involved in Colorado River operations and management issues. He recently led the successful Basin-wide effort to develop additional coordinated operational guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead, anticipated to be in effect through 2026.

Jayne Harkins is a 24-year Reclamation employee and oversees programs associated with the operation and maintenance of the Region`s water and power facilities. She is also responsible for administering programs that address bi-national relations with the government of Mexico.

Bill Hasencamp develops and manages water supply programs to augment the Metropolitan Water District`s Colorado River Aqueduct supplies to meet the needs of Southern California. He has been with Metropolitan for eight years.

Rita P. Maguire is a recognized expert on western water policy and is a founder of her firm. She was previously the founding President and CEO of the Arizona Center for Public Policy. She also served as Director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources from 1993 through 2001, and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Governor Fife Symington.  She has written and spoken extensively on all aspects of western water policy.

Peter D. Nichols practices in the areas of water, water quality, and environmental law. He serves as Special Assistant Attorney General to Colorado and New Mexico, and represents western water agencies, on water transfer issues under the Clean Water Act.

Don A. Ostler serves as the Executive Director of the Upper Colorado River Commission, which was created by Congress to administer interstate water issues involving Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming as well as Compact and Treaty obligations to the lower basin and Mexico.

Stanley M. Pollack is the lead water rights attorney for the Navajo Nation. Since 1985, he has represented the Navajo Nation in all matters affecting the tribe`s water resources, including five general stream adjudications, and in other water rights matters in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. He negotiated the Navajo Nation San Juan River in New Mexico Water Rights Settlement recently approved by Congress and is involved in Colorado River negotiations in the Lower Basin in Arizona and Upper Basin in Utah.

Ann C. Pongracz has been in her current position since November 2007. In this position, she represents the Colorado River Commission on hydropower and energy purchasing and provisioning issues. Her most recent efforts have been to lead an interstate legal team drafting legislation for the extension of Hoover Dam power contracts. She retired from Sprint in June 2007, where she represented the company in regulatory litigation, contract negotiations and legislative matters throughout the western US.

William E. Rinne joined his department in 2006. He is responsible for his authority’s programs and activities on the Colorado, Virgin and Muddy Rivers. He works on implementing Lower Colorado River Basin shortage guidelines and coordinated reservoir operations for Lakes Powell and Mead.

Roberto Fernando Salmón was appointed to his current position in April 2009. Prior to 2002, he did consulting work modeling aquifers and groundwater flow, mainly in the state of Sonora, Mexico. In 2002, he was appointed the Northwest Regional Manager of the National Water Commission, covering the state of Sonora and part of the state of Chihuahua where the Yaqui and Mayo river basins originate.

William H. Swan is Of Counsel to his firm, where he works on various water matters.

Brad Udall heads one of eight regionally focused NOAA-funded projects designed to connect decision makers with the latest in climate science. His research interests include the impacts of climate change on the Colorado River and he was a co-author of Appendix U in the recent Colorado River shortage sharing FEIS.

Roderick E. Walston specializes in natural resources, environmental and water law, and in appellate practice. During his long career in the California Attorney General`s office, he litigated many of the State`s most important cases.

Jill N. Willis specializes in water rights and related issues. She has significant experience litigating both groundwater and surface water disputes and regularly assists clients with legal issues related to water supply planning. She represents both public agencies and private interests thoughout the state of California.

CLE International Program Attorney: Laura Terlisner Mehew, laura@cle.com