Litigation Support/ Basin Adjudication

EKI provides litigation support and technical expertise to clients navigating complex water rights disputes, basin adjudications, and groundwater sustainability conflicts. Our team of engineers, hydrogeologists, and water rights professionals works closely with legal counsel, water users, and public agencies to provide defensible analysis, expert testimony, and long-term technical support throughout all stages of litigation and implementation.

Our experts bring deep experience in both contested proceedings and negotiated settlements, supporting clients from initial claims and discoveries through decree enforcement and ongoing compliance.

Our services include:

• Groundwater and Basin Analysis for Adjudications and Decrees
  EKI’s technical team can develop groundwater flow models and conduct sustainable yield analyses to support water rights quantification and allocations. Our team uses satellite imagery, evapotranspiration data, and historical cropping records (e.g., FSA data) to reconstruct past water use and assess pumping impacts—key elements in adjudication proceedings and groundwater management-related conflicts. We assist with technical workplans, common modeling platforms, and expert witness declarations.
• Water Rights Forensics and Historical Use Investigations
  In support of litigation and adjudication claims, we analyze historical diversion and use data to assess the extent, timing, and continuity of water rights. This includes appropriative and riparian claims, permit and license compliance, and assessing utilization or periods of maximum use. We prepare detailed reports and visuals suitable for legal proceedings, and provide expert testimony to support claims, rebut challenges, or resolve contested facts.
• Water Transfers and Exchanges in a Legal Context
  EKI’s experts help clients identify and evaluate transfer and exchange opportunities that may form part of settlements, decree implementation, or parallel negotiations. Our services include market and rate analysis, technical quantification of conserved water, and assistance navigating regulatory approval processes. These efforts often support interim agreements, allocation offsets, or long-term decree flexibility.
• Support for Basin Adjudication Proceedings and Post-Decree Management
  We support clients throughout the full lifecycle of basin adjudications – from initial filings and discovery through trial or negotiated settlement, and into decree implementation. Our work includes technical case management, development of pumping and use allocations, data management and reporting systems, and ongoing compliance support. We also help agencies and watermasters implement SGMA-aligned monitoring, modeling, and adaptive management frameworks under court supervision.