Bio

Chris Sanders is a Partner in Ellison Schneider Harris & Donlan, specializing in water issues. Chris has been involved in the water industry for more than 25 years, and joined Ellison Schneider Harris & Donlan in 1998 after working for more than 10 years as an environmental engineer with the State of California, Environmental Protection Agency (Regional Water Quality Control Board and Department of Toxic Substances Control). He possesses extensive experience concerning water use and management in California including water right permitting, adjudications, water transfers, conjunctive water use, water quality, and reclamation. He routinely handles matters pursuant to the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act, California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Endangered Species Act, and Clean Water Act. Chris represents private companies, municipalities, special districts, and individual landowners with transactional negotiations, litigation, and administrative agency proceedings. With a specific emphasis in preservation of existing rights, preparation of due diligence assessments, and acquisition of appropriative, riparian, recycled, and groundwater rights, Chris has significant experience problem solving and developing strategies to resolve complex water-related issues. He routinely appears before administrative agencies such as the State Water Resources Control Board, Regional Water Quality Control Boards, Department of Fish and Wildlife, and National Marine Fisheries Service, and also in superior court. He received his B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Colorado, Boulder and is licensed by the State of California as a registered civil engineer. Education: J.D., McGeorge School of Law, 1997, B.S. University of Colorado, Boulder, 1987.