David Johnson

David Johnson

Of Counsel

Practice Areas: Water Law

 

David Johnson is Of Counsel to Rose Law Group and advises the firm on water resources and environmental matters.

Previously, David worked for the Central Arizona Water Conservation District which is the elected board that operates the Central Arizona Project.  The Central Arizona Project is Arizona’s largest renewable water supply and one of the largest water providers in the United States.  In that role, David advised CAWCD on all matters involving the Colorado River including water deliveries and allocations, environmental and natural resources laws such as the ESA, NEPA, and CERCLA, and on tribal water settlements.

David also worked for the Arizona Department of Water Resources, the state agency tasked with managing Arizona various water supplies.  During that time, David advised the State on certain matters related to the Gila River water rights adjudication, on dam safety, groundwater permitting, AMA planning, and on the water rights claims of Indian communities.  David was also responsible for managing the Department’s various regulatory initiatives during his time with ADWR.

Prior to government employment, David worked in private practice where he generally practiced environmental and natural resources law with a diverse range of clients including mining companies, tribal entities, and water and wastewater treatment facilities.

David received his Master of Laws in Environmental Law from the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University in 2006 and his Juris Doctor from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2004 where he served as Articles Editor for the SMU Law Review.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in 2001. 

David has worked extensively with the American Bar Association’s Section of Environment, Energy and Resources and has served as a member its Executive Council and chair of multiple committees.  David also recently concluded his term as chair of the Arizona State Bar’s Environmental, Energy and Resources Chair.  David spends much of his free time with his wife and in raising his four children.

In The News

Water dreams dashed: Major issues with Scottsdale’s proposal in Rio Verde Foothills water crisis, says Maricopa County Supervisor and Rose Law Group Partner Thomas Galvin

By Hunter Bassler | 12 News Phoenix PHOENIX — Just when a solution was on the horizon, it looks like the residents of Rio Verde Foothills will have to keep waiting for water. Scottsdale recently came forward with a proposal to resupply the unincorporated community with water after cutting residents off at the beginning of the year. Maricopa County rejected

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Maricopa County Supervisor and Rose Law Group Partner Thomas Galvin has a better idea on how to fix Rio Verde Foothills water crisis

By William Pitts | 12 News Phoenix Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin of District 2 said he’s not sold on Scottsdale’s plan to end the Rio Verde Foothills water crisis. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors met in executive session Thursday to get legal advice about any forthcoming agreement. So far, the City of Scottsdale has not proposed an official agreement but passed a resolution describing what the city would agree to. About 500 homes in Rio Verde Foothills, north of Scottsdale, have been without a reliable source of water for eight weeks since Scottsdale cut them off. Those homes are

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Arizona says developers lack groundwater for big growth dreams in the desert west of Phoenix; Jordan Rose, founder and president of Rose Law Group, highlights solutions

Low water level strip on cliff at Lake Mead. View from Hoover Dam at Nevada and Arizona border, USA By Brandon Loomis | Arizona Republic A newly released state report on groundwater supplies under the desert west of Phoenix signals difficulty ahead for developers wishing to build hundreds of thousands of homes there. It also signals the start of an effort by

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