Beyond the Tideline: Water Law Challenges at the Intersection of Desalination and Groundwater Rights

Tara Paul and Alexander Doherty presented at the 2026 California Groundwater Conference, hosted by the American Ground Water Trust, delivering a one‑hour session titled “Beyond the Tideline: Water Law Challenges at the Intersection of Desalination and Groundwater Rights.” The presentation examined how California’s water rights framework applies to desalination projects, including the legal distinctions between seawater, brackish groundwater, and freshwater, as well as the regulatory treatment of desalinated product water. The session also addressed “new water” doctrines, constitutional and regulatory considerations, and recent legal developments shaping groundwater sustainability and long‑term, climate‑resilient water supply planning, with practical insights relevant to public agencies and project developers.