Overview
His experience includes a wide variety of water rights transactions (groundwater, surface water, and Colorado River entitlements), assured water supply permitting, consultation on compliance with active management area management plans, water rights due diligence and permitting, state land acquisition, and National Historic Preservation Act compliance. Fred has represented land developers, landowners, golf courses, ranchers, farmers, private water and energy utility businesses, government agencies, and private equity investment firms.
Fred also served for five years as the legislative liaison for the Arizona Department of Water Resources, during which time he managed several bills that were enacted, including the 2007 Water Adequacy Amendments. Fred has experience with the Arizona legislative process, bill drafting, and government relations.
Experience
- Appealed suspension of Forest Service Recreation Residence Permit and pursued settlement.
- Prepared applications for new Irrigation Grandfathered Rights in the Douglas Active Management Area.
Prepared applications for new irrigation rights in the Hualapai Valley Irrigation Non-Expansion Area. - Provided legal analysis public comment to Arizona Department of Water Resources regarding impacts of proposed conservation requirements in the Active Management Area Fourth and Fifth Management Plans on behalf of golf course, mining, and agriculture clients.
- Represented client in seeking state approval for public/private cooperative effort to transport groundwater to public water providers in the initial Active Management Areas (“AMAs”) from an approved groundwater transportation basin.
- Represented several clients in acquiring “Type 2” groundwater rights in the Phoenix AMA, Pinal AMA, and Tucson AMA.
- Represented client in seeking state approvals for converting irrigation grandfathered rights to “Type 1” non-irrigation grandfathered rights.
- Represented clients in obtaining Certificates of Assured Water Supply and Adequate Water Supply.
- Advised client regarding the transferability of certain Colorado River entitlements and obtaining state and federal approval for the transfer.
- Guided developer through process of converting Salt River Project served agricultural lands to urban development.
*Certain representations occurred prior to joining Dorsey
News & Resources
Events & Speaking Engagements
- “Acquiring Water Rights: Water Rights Due Diligence and the Application, Lease, Transfer and Sale of Water Rights in Arizona,” Presenter, Halfmoon Seminars Webinar (June 27, 2024)
- “Arizona Groundwater Policy,” Author, The Water Report: Water Rights, Water Quality & Water Solutions in the West (August 2023)
Industries & Practices
Development & Infrastructure
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnergy & Natural Resources
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnvironmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFood, Beverage & Agribusiness
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Development & Infrastructure
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Environmental
- Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Mining
- Tax
Professional & Civic
Professional Achievements
- Maricopa County Bar Association (2020-Present)
- State Bar of Arizona
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section (2009-Present)
- At-large Member (2021-2023)
- Secretary of Executive Council (2015-2016)
- At-large Member (2011-2015)
- Environmental and Natural Resources Law Section (2009-Present)
- Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association (2019-Present)
- Green Chamber of Phoenix
- Board Member (2015-2016)
Community Involvement
- Community Legal Services
- President (2024-Present)
- Vice-President (2023-2024)
- Board of Directors (2020-Present)
- Executive Committee Treasurer (2022-2023)
- Executive Committee Member-at-Large (2021-2022)
- Youth Basketball Coach (2024)
- Youth Baseball Coach (2020, 2022-2024)
- Youth Soccer Coach (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2021-2024)
- Luke Air Force Base, Honorary Commander (2004-2005)