Bill Staudenmaier has been practicing water law and natural resources law for more than 30 years. He focuses on acquiring and protecting water rights for industrial, municipal, and agricultural water users. Bill’s water law practice involves representation of clients in general stream adjudications, negotiation of contracts for transfers of water rights, obtaining permits and approvals from state and federal regulatory agencies, and drafting, negotiating, and lobbying concerning state and federal water resources legislation.
Bill represents large water users in both pending general stream adjudications in Arizona (Gila River and Little Colorado River), including appellate representation on issues relating to the rights of groundwater users and tribal water rights. Bill also represents clients holding contractual rights to Colorado River water, assisting those clients in securing, protecting, and defending their rights in negotiations, administrative matters, and litigation. Bill also advises clients with interests arising under a number of interstate water compacts.
Bill represents private and public sector clients in negotiations to settle a variety of Indian water right claims, including the Gila River Indian Community Water Rights Settlement, the White Mountain Apache Tribe Water Rights Quantification Agreement, The Hualapai Tribe Water Rights Settlement, and ongoing negotiations to settle the claims of other Tribes in Arizona. In addition, he represents private and public entities in transactions to secure water supplies, including negotiation of long-term water supply contracts for major industrial facilities, water supply contracts for golf courses, and contracts to acquire water rights for municipal and private development purposes.