Developed over more than one hundred years of overlapping court decisions, statutes, policies, treaties and contracts, water is a heavily regulated resource supporting life, enjoyment and economic opportunity.
Water law is a fascinating field, especially in the West. Developed over more than one hundred years of overlapping court decisions, statutes, policies, treaties and contracts, water is a heavily regulated resource supporting life, enjoyment and economic opportunity. From farms and ranches, to master planned residential communities, to high-tech industries and weekend recreation, the water we see around us is precious. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the arid Southwest, and Arizona is a leader in water policy, water management and water conservation.
If you have a water-related issue in your life, follow the path of those who came before you—get a good water lawyer. Water law is a demanding field that requires constant attention to keep well-informed. Expertise and experience in such a specialized field is developed over decades. Navigating the complexities of water law is an immense endeavor.
Gammage & Burnham is fortunate to have two Partners with this experience and knowledge.
Grady Gammage Jr. was President of the Central Arizona Project Board of Directors from 1993 to 2005, and was President from 1995 to 1999, and has been heavily involved in major policy decisions and directives involving water. In cooperation with Arizona State University, Mr. Gammage published the report Watering the Sun Corridor in 2011 and, due to popular demand, recently published the update Return to Watering the Sun Corridor (Spring, 2021). These studies are necessary reading for anyone interested in the future of Arizona’s water.
Michael J. Pearce has been involved in water law for over 30 years. He served as Chief Counsel of the Arizona Department of Water Resources for seven years (1995-2002) and has been active for the last two decades in private practice dedicated exclusively to western water law and the law of the Colorado River. Mr. Pearce has assisted countless developers, businesses, farms, ranches and municipalities in solving their water issues, and has participated in some of Arizona’s most progressive water management strategies.
If you need a water lawyer, look no further than Gammage & Burnham. Our depth and agility can assist you in making the right choices, and getting your project through to the finish.