Professor Frank Addresses Planning & Conservation League Assembly

On Feb. 7, Professor of Environmental Practice Richard M. Frank made a presentation to the California Planning & Conservation League’s Annual Assembly on the topic, “Reforming California’s Water Laws in an Era of Climate Change.” 

Frank described his work with a small group of water law professors and other experts over the past two years to formulate and recommend numerous reforms to California’s antiquated water rights system that the group believes are necessary in the climate change-challenged 21st century. 

Frank observed in his remarks that two of the working group’s recommended reforms were enacted by the California Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Newsom in 2022. And two additional bills reflecting water law reforms advocated by Frank have been introduced in the 2023 legislative session by California legislative leaders. 

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.