Professor Frank Speaks at Santa Barbara Water Law Conference

On June 8, Professor of Environmental Practice Rick Frank spoke to the Argent Communication Group’s 2023 annual California Water Law & Policy Conference in Santa Barbara.  

The topic was “Contemporizing California’s 19th Century Water Rights Laws to Address a 21st Century Water and Climate Crisis.”  Frank’s remarks addressed three pending pieces of proposed California state legislation designed to reform and modernize California’s water rights system.  That proposed legislation was prompted by a set of recommendations Frank and other water rights experts made to California’s Legislature and governor in 2022.  

While controversial, each of the three bills has passed the legislative house in which it was introduced (i.e., the state Assembly or Senate), and proceeded to the second house for further committee hearings and final legislative votes. 

Richard M. Frank ’74 is a leader in the field of environmental law, Professor of Environmental Practice and the founding director of the California Environmental Law and Policy Center at UC Davis School of Law.