Kalamazoo Water Law Attorneys 

Over 25 Years of Serving West Michigan

In many areas of Michigan, individuals, families, businesses, developers and other commercial entities have access to waterways on their properties. Many often utilize them as part of their daily lives or for their businesses. When this is the case, there are riparian laws and restrictions on how individuals may address the water's location and utilize it for their benefit.

At Willis Law, we represent farmers, agricultural businesses, data centers, municipalities, and property owners who are navigating Michigan's complex water use framework. Whether your dispute involves the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), a neighboring landowner, or a regulatory action threatening your livelihood, our attorneys are prepared to stand with you.

Contact Willis Law online or call (888) 461-7744 to schedule your free consultation and discuss your water law matter with an attorney today.

Our Water Law Services

Willis Law handles water law matters across the full spectrum of disputes and regulatory proceedings affecting landowners, operators, and public entities in West Michigan.

Our water law practice encompasses:

• Riparian litigation between neighboring landowners or between property owners and public entities, including disputes over water rights, shoreline access, and reasonable use 
• Water usage disputes involving EGLE permit denials, site-specific review challenges, and contested case hearings before administrative law judges 
• Watershed disputes with EGLE, including stream reclassifications and claims of regulatory overreach in basins such as the St. Joseph River watershed 
• Agricultural water usage disputes on behalf of farmers and farm operations facing restrictions on irrigation wells, high-capacity well registrations, and crop-threatening withdrawal limitations 
• Data center water usage litigation for large commercial users navigating state permit requirements and groundwater impact assessments 
• Municipal water use counseling to help local governments and utilities work with EGLE and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) to secure the water access needed to support growth and serve their communities

Why Choose Willis Law

Willis Law is a full-service Michigan law firm with offices in Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, and Paw Paw, located in the region where these water disputes are actively unfolding.

• Deep regional roots with attorneys who are lifelong West Michigan residents and closely connected to the communities and industries affected by water law issues 
• Proven litigation background with decades of experience representing individuals and businesses in complex matters across Michigan courts and before state agencies 
• Strong legal foundation shaped by co-founders Attorney Michael J. Willis and Attorney Shaun P. Willis, who grew up in southwest Michigan’s legal community as sons of the Honorable Frank D. Willis, former Chief Judge of Van Buren County Court 
• Hands-on, team-driven representation where every matter receives the full attention and resources of the firm 
• Demonstrated results with thousands of cases handled and recognition as one of the fastest-growing law firms in Michigan
• Experience handling EGLE-related disputes including permit denials, site-specific reviews, water access restrictions, contested case proceedings, civil litigation, and appellate matters 
• Broad courtroom experience across state and federal courts, including the Western District of Michigan, Eastern District of Michigan, Michigan Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 
• Client-centered approach focused on thorough representation, direct communication, and achieving meaningful results
• Free initial consultations so you can understand your situation and legal options before making a commitment

Understanding Local Legal Frameworks for Water Use

Understanding water law in Michigan means understanding several interlocking systems of rights, statutes, and regulatory authority.

Riparian Rights

Michigan water law is based on the riparian doctrine, meaning water rights are tied to owning land next to a lake, river, or stream. While property owners generally have the right to use the water, those rights are shared and must be exercised reasonably in relation to others using the same source; Michigan courts have also recognized that some uses are treated more favorably than others, while many are judged under a general “reasonable use” standard. Agricultural irrigation, for example, is considered an “artificial” use under state law, which can make it more vulnerable to challenge if it affects neighboring users.

The Water Withdrawal Assessment Law

Michigan’s Water Withdrawal Assessment Law was established through 2008 amendments to Part 327 of the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA) and governs large-quantity water withdrawals today. Any proposed high-capacity withdrawal must be reviewed using EGLE’s Water Withdrawal Assessment Tool. If the tool identifies a potential adverse resource impact, the applicant must go through a site-specific review. If an application is denied, the property owner can appeal through a contested case hearing before an administrative law judge. Property owners may also pursue a civil lawsuit to assert their riparian rights against other users within the same watershed.

Stream Classifications & the DNR's Role

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has authority to designate streams as cold-water or warm-water fisheries. A cold-water designation — like the one sought for the Prairie River basin — triggers tighter limits on new or expanded large-quantity withdrawals in that watershed. These designations are rare but consequential, and they are subject to legal challenge.

EGLE's Permit Authority

EGLE's Water Resources Division administers permit requirements under multiple parts of NREPA, including Part 301 (Inland Lakes and Streams), Part 303 (Wetlands Protection), and Part 31 (Water Resources Protection). Its authority intersects with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for activities near Great Lakes bottomlands, and with the MDARD on agricultural water reporting. Navigating these overlapping jurisdictions requires counsel with a clear command of how these agencies interact, and how to challenge their decisions.

The Stakes for Southwest Michigan

Agriculture is the backbone of the economy across the West Michigan region. Specialty crop production — the kind of high-value agricultural work that depends on reliable irrigation — drives land values, employment, and rural community vitality. When EGLE imposes withdrawal restrictions without adequate study of economic impact, or when watershed reclassifications proceed without meaningful consideration of the farms and families in the affected basin, the harm is real and lasting.

Willis Law believes that regulatory authority exists to serve the public interest. Agricultural producers, businesses, and municipalities are part of that public. Our attorneys advocate for clients who have been overlooked in that equation. We are committed to ensuring that the legal process is followed, that the evidence is properly weighed, and that our clients' rights are protected every step of the way.

If EGLE is moving against your water use rights — or if you anticipate a regulatory challenge on the horizon — the time to act is now. Water disputes in Michigan involve strict procedural timelines, and the window to appeal or contest certain regulatory decisions is limited.

Speak to an Experienced West Michigan Water Law Attorney Today

Call (888) 461-7744 or contact us online to schedule your free initial consultation with a water law attorney. We proudly serve clients in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Van Buren, Calhoun, Branch, Kent, Ottawa, Barry, Hillsdale, and Allegan counties, and throughout West Michigan.