What We Do

Water Rights

DOWL HKM’s experienced water rights professionals specialize in water rights research and assessment, land use/water rights surveys, and supporting field studies. Typical projects include filing new appropriations, transfer of water rights, abandonment of water rights, interpretation of compacts and decrees, abstracting of water rights, field studies, negotiations, adjudications and expert witness testimony. DOWL HKM’s staff has completed water rights projects in many states including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Oregon, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Water right investigations performed by DOWL HKM have required detailed analysis of pertinent state, Indian and federal reserved water right laws for private and governmental clients. A thorough understanding of these laws has been necessary before technical investigative studies could be undertaken and conclusions made on the validity of water use and/or water claims. DOWL HKM has a dedicated library containing the pertinent water right laws throughout the western United States as well as extensive project files of water right work developed through the course of litigation and negotiation work over the last few decades.