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Rebecca Smith helps public agencies, agricultural interests, and private clients navigate complex water rights, groundwater, and environmental issues throughout California. Her practice combines deep knowledge of water law with a practical understanding of the regulatory and operational challenges facing water users today.

Rebecca advises clients through administrative proceedings, permitting and appeals, and compliance with state and federal law, including the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. As a trusted general counsel, she brings a thoughtful, collaborative approach to developing creative solutions that address both immediate needs and long-term challenges.

On August 17, 2026, a unanimous panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a years-long challenge to the United States Bureau of Reclamation’s (“Reclamation”) conversion of certain federal water service contracts, granting a significant win to the municipal and irrigation contractors relying on those agreements to provide water