Norm Semanko

In addition to his part-time practice with Rose Law Group, Norm Semanko serves as Executive Director & General Counsel for the Idaho Water Users Association and is Of Counsel to the firm of Barker, Rosholt and Simpson in Boise, Idaho. Norm has extensive experience representing clients in administrative proceedings before the Idaho Department of Water Resources, the Snake River Basin Adjudication, the Idaho Supreme Court, and federal court. He represents the Coalition for Idaho Water, a group of Idaho agricultural and municipal interests, formed to protect the legal interests of water users in Endangered Species Act litigation in federal court. Norm has represented Idaho on the Western States Water Council and is also past President of the National Water Resources Association, representing irrigated agriculture, municipal water providers, and other water users throughout the seventeen western states. He has served on the Advisory Committee for the Family Farm Alliance since 1993. Norm was appointed to the Eagle City Council in January, 2008 and serves as the liaison to Eagle Sewer District. Norm was elected Chairman of the Idaho Republican Party by the State Convention delegates in June, 2008, and also serves as a member of the Republican National Committee. A former adjunct professor at Boise State University and the College of Southern Idaho, Norm has taught courses on water, natural resources and environmental law, as well as lecturing extensively at seminars and continuing legal education forums. Prior to his legal practice, Norm was a Legislative Assistant for U.S. Senator Larry Craig in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, handling water and natural resource issues. He also served the Senator as a Field Representative. He has served on the transition team for several elected officials, advising them on water and natural resources issues, including Senator Dirk Kempthorne, Congressman Mike Crapo, and Congressman Bill Sali. Norm is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. and earned his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Idaho. He is a member of the Idaho State Bar Association and Past President of the Water Law Section.