Lisa M. McKnight

Lisa McKnight is one of the six founding attorneys of Salmon, Lewis & Weldon. Ms. McKnight specializes in environmental and natural resources law, Indian law, and federal administrative law and procedure.

Ms. McKnight’s practice focuses on the representation of water and power providers, including the Salt River Project (“SRP”), the San Carlos Irrigation and Drainage District and Arizona municipalities, in litigation and regulatory compliance matters involving the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and other federal laws affecting the use of natural resources. From the inception of her practice, Ms. McKnight also has represented SRP and other water users in Arizona’s general stream adjudications and in complex negotiations to settle the water rights of Arizona Indian tribes. Ms. McKnight also represents SRP in its capacity as a power provider on environmental and Indian law matters affecting SRP’s operation of the Navajo Generating Station, located on the Navajo Reservation near Page, Arizona.

Representative Professional Experience

• Negotiated numerous Indian water settlements on behalf of the Salt River Project, including the preparation of multi-party agreements and legislation enacted by Congress to settle the water right claims of the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, the Fort McDowell Indian Community, the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Zuni Heaven Reservation and the Gila River Indian Community.
• Successfully negotiated with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and other parties on behalf of Salt River Project to obtain permits under the Endangered Species Act authorizing the incidental “take” of endangered and threatened species in connection with Salt River Project’s water and power operations.
• Negotiated the legal terms of an incidental take permit issued by Fish & Wildlife Service in 2003 for SRP’s continued operation of Roosevelt Dam and Lake. The permit and its accompanying Roosevelt Habitat Conservation Plan authorized, minimized and mitigated the incidental take of endangered, threatened and candidate bird species for a period of 50 years.
• Participated in multi-party negotiations leading to the issuance of an incidental take permit in 2005 for the continued operation the Lower Colorado River system of dams, reservoirs and power generation facilities. The permit and its accompanying Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Plan authorized, minimized and mitigated the incidental take of 26 endangered, threatened and sensitive species for a period of 50 years.
• Negotiated the legal terms of an incidental take permit issued by Fish & Wildlife Service in 2008 for SRP’s continued operation of Horseshoe and Bartlett Reservoirs on the Verde River in Arizona. The permit and its accompanying Horseshoe and Bartlett Habitat Conservation Plan authorized, minimized and mitigated the incidental take of endangered, threatened and candidate bird, fish, frog and snake species for a period of 50 years.
• Successfully represented SRP, the operator of Roosevelt Dam in Arizona, in a 1996 lawsuit brought by an environmental group alleging that the Bureau of Reclamation violated the National Environmental Policy and Endangered Species Act through the construction of modifications to the dam that impacted endangered species.
• Successfully represented SRP in two suits brought by environmental groups in 1997 and 2001 alleging that the Secretary of the Interior’s operation of the Lower Colorado River reservoirs, dams and power facilities violated the Endangered Species Act.
• Successfully defended the San Carlos Irrigation District against a lawsuit brought in 1999 by the San Carlos Apache Tribe alleging that the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ operation of San Carlos Reservoir violated multiple federal environmental laws, including the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act.
• Successfully represented the City of Scottsdale in a 1998 suit brought by homeowners’ associations and an environmental interest group challenging the City’s construction of the Thompson Peak Parkway and related recreational and flood control projects under numerous federal environmental laws. After winning in the district court, participated in mediation proceedings in 1999 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, and prepared the agreements and other documents resulting in a permanent settlement of the litigation.
• Represented the City of Yuma on matters involving the City's entitlement to Colorado River. In 2005, prepared the application for incidental take permit submitted by the City to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in connection with the Lower Colorado Multi- Species Conservation Program.

Honors & Awards

• Best Lawyers in America (2009-Present), Environmental Law Specialty Area
• Arizona's Finest Lawyers

Professional & Civic Activities

• Arizona State University Law School, Adjunct Professor, Water Law, 1995, 1996
• King of Glory Lutheran Church, Music Education and Ministry Programs, 1997-Present, Environmental Awareness Programs, 2007-present
• Scottsdale Prevention Institute, Parent Advisory Board, 1997-1998

Publications

• “The Endangered Species Act and Water Projects in the West,” Southwest Hydrology (2008)
• “Future Indian Water Settlements in Arizona: The Race to the Bottom of the Waterhole?” Arizona Law Review, Volume 49, No. 2 (2007)
• “Arizona Water Law,” Clark, Waters and Water Rights (1991 edition - present)
• "Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community Water Rights Settlement," State Bar of Arizona Environmental and Natural Resources Section Newsletter (1991).
• "Seventeen Year-Old Gila River Case Rolls on Towards Decree," Maricopa Lawyer (1991)

Speaking Engagements

• “Conservation Easements and Incidental Take Permits: Complementary Enforcement Tools?” Conservation Easements Seminar, CLE International (2007).
• “The Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act,” National Environmental Policy Act Seminar, CLE International (2007).
• “Endangered Species Act Fundamentals and Application,” Arizona Bar Association, Animal Law Section Meeting (2006).
• “Endangered Species Act Issues in Arizona," American Bar Association, Natural Resources Section, Arizona Chapter (2002).
• "The Endangered Species Act: Statutory Requirements and Recent Developments," Cambridge Institute (1995).
• "Water Rights and Constitutional Takings," Arizona Water Law Seminar, CLE International (1995 - 1997).
• "Learning to Get Along: The Evolution of the Laws Governing Surface Water Rights in Arizona and Continuing Disputes Over the Allocation of a Scarce Resource," Arizona Water Law Seminar, CLE International (1994).

Memberships & Affiliations

• American Bar Association, Natural Resources and Administrative Law Sections
• Maricopa County Bar Association, Natural Resources and Indian Law Sections