Water Law

Olson & Howard has a long history working on matters involving our lakes, rivers, streams & wetlands here in Michigan.   Attorneys from Olson & Howard have tried some of the most important water-law cases in Michigan, have given presentations on water law issues throughout the Great Lakes region, have advised numerous local, state, and federal environmental and community groups, and maintain active memberships on the State Bar of Michigan’s Environmental Law Section, including on the Great Lakes and Inland Waters Committee. 

Our attorneys are experienced with permitting matters at the Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency, both leading up to the issuance of a permit and resolving disputes related to those permits, whether informally or through contested administrative proceedings.  We also routinely handle matters involving riparian rights, public trust issues, groundwater and high-capacity wells, wastewater treatment and discharges, contamination and water quality issues, soil erosion and other hydrological impacts from construction/development projects, wetlands conservation and mitigation, tribal fishing & treaty rights, invasive species and fisheries issues, coastal zone management issues, as well as other matters under state law and the Clean Water Act.