Water Law 201 Webinar – Going Deeper into California Water Law

Tom Cumpston, MCWRA Legal Counsel

California water law is complex, evolving, and increasingly central to how local agencies manage water supply, conservation, and regional partnerships. Join MCWRA Legal Counsel Tom Cumpston for Water Law 201, an in-depth webinar designed for water leaders who want to better understand the legal principles shaping water management across the Sierra Nevada and throughout California.

Building on foundational concepts, this session will explore several critical areas of water law, including Area-of-Origin protections, the constitutional doctrine of “waste and unreasonable use,” and the legal framework governing water transfers. These topics are essential for agencies navigating water rights, regulatory oversight, conservation requirements, and opportunities to maximize the value of their water resources.

Participants will gain practical insights into how these laws affect water rights security, regional water supply planning, and policy decisions—along with real-world considerations for agencies evaluating water transfers or responding to evolving regulatory expectations.

Whether you are a water agency director, board member, policy professional, or regional stakeholder, this webinar will help you better understand the legal landscape influencing California’s water future.

MCWRA Regional Roundtable Luncheon: Marlette Lake Dam Rehabilitation Project

The Mountain Counties Water Resources Association (MCWRA) is pleased to launch a reimagined MCWRA Regional Roundtable Luncheon series, designed specifically for General Managers and senior staff from our member agencies.

These invitation-focused gatherings will bring together regional water leaders for focused conversations on the most pressing issues facing Sierra Nevada water agencies, while also creating space for candid discussion, collaboration, and relationship-building among peers.

Each Roundtable will feature a lunch, and a brief technical case study highlighting infrastructure challenges, innovative solutions, and lessons learned that are directly relevant to mountain water systems.

Marlette Lake Dam Rehabilitation

The inaugural Roundtable will feature a presentation from Lumos & Associates on the Marlette Lake Dam Rehabilitation Project.

Originally constructed more than 150 years ago during the Comstock Lode era, Marlette Lake Dam forms a high-elevation reservoir that continues to supply water to communities including Virginia City, Gold Hill, Silver City, and Carson City. Located nearly 8,000 feet above the Lake Tahoe Basin and accessible only via a steep forest service road, the dam presents unique logistical and engineering challenges.

The presentation will provide a brief overview of the ongoing rehabilitation effort to modernize this historic high-hazard dam and extend the life of the system, including lessons learned from working in a remote alpine environment with a limited construction window.

Chelsea Cluff, P.E.

Project Manager, Lumos & Associates

Chelsea Cluff is a licensed Nevada civil engineer with eight years of experience in water infrastructure, dam engineering, stormwater management, and planning. She currently serves as Project Manager for the Marlette Dam Rehabilitation Project, which is under construction, and the Hobart Dam Rehabilitation Project, scheduled for construction in 2026.

 Chelsea holds a B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno, and began her career specializing in earthen embankment dam planning, design, and construction. Her project experience includes major regional efforts such as the TRI Center Effluent Reservoir Expansion and the West Wash Dam Rehabilitation Planning Project for the City of Reno.

 Outside of work, Chelsea is an avid endurance runner who participates in everything from marathons to 100-mile ultramarathons, and volunteers regularly at local races.

Please join the Mountain Counties Water Resources Association (MCWRA) for a Regional Leaders Reception at The Murphys Historic Hotel.  The event is taking place on Thursday, April 9th from 5pm - 7pm.

Join us to network with MCWRA leadership, and other elected officials from the region.  

Please consider sponsoring the event as well!  Sponsorship opportunities are outlined below.  Please reach out to Rayann La France (mcwra.office@gmail.com) with any questions or for alternate payment options.

Agenda:

• 11:30 am: Arrival at Corporation Yard

• 12:00 pm: Lunch with brief presentation providing an overview of the City and Environmental Utilities

• 1:00 pm: Bus departure to Pleasant Grove Wastewater Treatment Plant

• Tour of PGWWTP

• 2:30 pm: Bus departure to Solaire ASR well site

• Tour and presentation at Solaire

• 4:00 pm: Bus return to Corporation Yard