Groundwater Expertise

Because of Kidman Gagen Law’s specialized practice, Kidman Gagen Law attorneys have extensive knowledge of the California Water Code and expertise in all areas of water law, and in particular, groundwater rights and adjudicated groundwater basins.  Specifically, Mr. Kidman has been involved with court and management proceedings in nearly every groundwater basin in Southern California, including the Orange County, Mojave River, Antelope Valley, Chino, Rialto Colton, “Six Basins,” Main San Gabriel, San Fernando, Central, West Coast, Santa Paula, San Temoteo, Anza Cahuilla, Pauma Valley and Santa Clarita basins.  

Mr. Kidman is a published author regarding groundwater management and groundwater storage and recovery programs.  Some of these publications include:

• Author, Feature Article “Groundwater Storage: Not as Easy as It Sounds,” California Water Law & Policy Reporter, May 2004, Vol. 14, No. 8.
   
• Author, “There is No Paramount Overlying Right to Mine a Groundwater Basin” California Water Law & Policy Reporter, March 1999, Volume 9, Number 6. 
   
• Author, “Mojave Adjudication Judgment Ends Decades of Ground Water Basin Overdraft and Political Controversy” California Water Law & Policy Reporter, February 1996, Vol. 6 Issue 5.
   
• Author, "Connections Between Groundwater and Surface Water," Proceedings 20th Biennial Conference on Groundwater, University of California Water Resources Center, California Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board, September 1995.
   
• Author "Pros and Cons of Groundwater Management or Look Out For Some Extremely Bogus Thinking," Proceedings, 18th Biennial Conference on Groundwater, University of California Water Resources Center, California Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board, September 1991. 
   
• Author, "San Gabriel Valley Groundwater Contamination as Cause of Water Scarcity," Proceedings, 17th Biennial Conference on Groundwater, University of California Water Resources Center, California Department of Water Resources and State Water Resources Control Board, Report No. 72, September, 1989.