Environmental law /center/gwc/ en 2024 Harrison Fellow Dives into Litigation and Explores NYC Environmental Justice /center/gwc/2025/08/14/2024-harrison-fellow-dives-litigation-and-explores-nyc-environmental-justice <span>2024 Harrison Fellow Dives into Litigation and Explores NYC Environmental Justice</span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-08-14T14:17:55-06:00" title="Thursday, August 14, 2025 - 14:17">Thu, 08/14/2025 - 14:17</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-08/Tori%20matson%20with%20NYC%20skyline.jpeg?h=4cb23e29&amp;itok=GhDCA0Wp" width="1200" height="800" alt="Tori Matson in NYC"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">Student Opportunities</a> </div> <span>Victoria Matson</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-row-subrow row"> <div class="ucb-article-text col-lg d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>This summer, I had the opportunity to serve as a legal intern at Gersowitz Libo &amp; Korek (GLK), a leading plaintiffs’ law firm in New York City known for its work in personal injury and tort litigation. My time at GLK provided invaluable exposure to the practical side of litigation and significantly deepened my understanding of tort law within the broader context of environmental justice.</span></p><p><span>One of the initial focuses of my internship was researching toxic torts under New York common law. Through this work, I assessed which categories of toxic exposure—such as lead poisoning, mold contamination, industrial chemical exposure, and asbestos—had not only solid legal grounding but also potential for meaningful impact and success in litigation. My findings helped the firm refine its litigation approaches and explore new areas of practice that align with both client needs and the evolving environmental landscape of New York City.</span></p><p><span>Beyond toxic torts, I had the chance to contribute directly to trial preparation in a high-stakes civil case. Working alongside lead trial partners, I conducted civil procedure and evidence research for both direct and cross-examinations, helping shape the firm’s courtroom strategy. This experience gave me a close-up view of how attorneys use the facts of a case—combined with careful legal analysis—to craft persuasive narratives in front of a judge and jury. I also participated in client trial preparation sessions, which highlighted the human element of litigation and the importance of building trust and clarity between lawyer and client. I supported the jury selection process, underscoring the nuances of voir dire and the critical role of attorney intuition and psychology in building a favorable jury pool. Observing and assisting with jury selection was a particularly eye-opening aspect of the internship, illustrating the intersection between legal doctrine and human dynamics.</span></p><p><span>My summer at GLK not only sharpened my research and writing skills but also exposed me to the unique challenges of litigating complex environmental and toxic tort cases in a densely populated urban setting. It was a formative experience that reinforced my interest in pursuing a career at the intersection of natural resources law, environmental justice, and litigation.</span></p><p><span>I am grateful to the Getches-Wilkinson Center for supporting students who are passionate about environmental law and its practical applications. The skills and insights I gained this summer will serve as a foundation for my continued legal studies and future advocacy in the fields of environmental justice and natural resources law.</span></p></div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-right col-lg"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-08/Tori%20matson%20with%20NYC%20skyline.jpeg?itok=KkmT-HUL" width="1500" height="1999" alt="Tori Matson in NYC"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 14 Aug 2025 20:17:55 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 817 at /center/gwc Acequia Assistance Project Enters 14th Year Providing Pro Bono Legal Services /center/gwc/2025/08/14/acequia-assistance-project-enters-14th-year-providing-pro-bono-legal-services <span>Acequia Assistance Project Enters 14th Year Providing Pro Bono Legal Services</span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-08-14T10:39:23-06:00" title="Thursday, August 14, 2025 - 10:39">Thu, 08/14/2025 - 10:39</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-08/Acequia%20Image.jpg?h=97c79c76&amp;itok=3aZrLZt6" width="1200" height="800" alt="Acequia Assistance Project"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">Student Opportunities</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/69" hreflang="en">Water law</a> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/nathan-boyer-rechlin">Nathan Boyer-Rechlin</a> <span>,&nbsp;</span> <span>Gabrielle Cooper and Andrew Nosler</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>The Acequia Assistance Project is entering its 14<sup>th</sup> year of providing pro bono legal services to the acequia community in Colorado’s San Luis Valley. Each year the project accepts new cases – ranging from helping acequia members write or amend their ditches bylaws, file articles of incorporation, or prove their water rights – and first year law students take on the challenge, and opportunity, of engaging in meaningful legal work, under supervision of a supervising attorney. For 2025-2026, the project is once again a Tier 3 grant recipient from the office of Public and Community Engaged Scholarship (PACES). These funds will support student trips to engage with their clients and the community, student events that offer professional development and community building, and legal fees associated with the project. Student apply to the project in September, and most teams begin project work with their clients in early January. The keystone of the project’s engagement with the acequia community is the annual </span><em><span>Congreso de Acequias,&nbsp;</span></em><span>hosted by the Sangre de Cristo Acequia Association and Colorado Open Lands. Each year the project brings between 15 and 30 students down to this event to represent the project, connect in person with clients, and do outreach for new cases. For most students, this is the most meaningful element of their time in the in the acequia project.</span></p><p><span>Last March, in conjunction with their trip to </span><em><span>Congreso,</span></em><span> Andrew Nosler and Gabrielle Cooper had the opportunity to attend the annual shareholder meeting of the ditch they are representing. Read more about their experience in the project, and connecting with the community below:</span></p><p><span>______________________________________</span></p><p><span>As part of the ý Law Acequia Assistance Project, our team is working to develop and update the Bylaws for Canon Ditch No. 22, located near Antonito, Colorado. Acequias are community operated irrigation ditches. The practice was brought to Spain by the Moors and to Colorado by Spanish and Mexican farmers who settled here before Colorado became a state. The Acequia Assistance Project aims to provide no-cost legal assistance to Acequia users in the San Luis Valley.</span></p><p><span>We recently paid a wonderful visit to Colorado’s San Luis Valley for the annual Congreso meeting. There, Acequia users from across the valley gathered to discuss and showcase the state of water management in the valley. Farmers and ranchers brought exhibits and presentations to share their unique strategies for land and water use. We watched people make fungus-based fertilizer in real time, explored a model electric fencing construction, and even learned&nbsp;about harvesting wild plants. These presentations showcased a future of abundance and sustainability. Locals in the valley are working hard for the future of their land and water. They are creative, industrious, and deeply connected to the community.</span></p><p><span>Colorado water rights are “first in time, first in right.” This means that the first person to appropriate water and use it has a priority water right over later users. The Acequias in the San Luis Valley are some of the oldest water rights in the state. On a tour of San Luis People’s Ditch, water right No. 1 in Colorado, we learned a slice of the vibrant history that defines the valley. Jerry Gallegos, a People’s Ditch irrigator brought us to different points along the ditch and his ranching property, so we could see for ourselves how the ditch works and the products of irrigation. We visited the stream that provides People’s Ditch with water, Culebra Creek. Alongside a group of cows (and adorable newborn calves) cold, clean water flowed fresh off the southern end of the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range. At a diversion point, called a headgate, the ditch starts and pulls a modest flow of water from the stream. It has spread water to community members for any imaginable number of uses since 1852. Walking along the ditch, it was easy to get lost imagining the generations of community members who have loved and cared for this water.</span></p><p><span>Because many of the Acequias in the San Luis Valley were established before, or early on, in Colorado’s statehood, they hold some of the highest priority water rights in the state under the first in time, first in right rule.&nbsp; The Colorado Acequia Recognition Law allows acequias to continue operating under their traditional communal water sharing systems and strengthens their ability to protect their water rights under Colorado law. The Acequia Assistance Project aims to assist farmers in the Valley to take full advantage of these protections, so that their water rights are protected into the future, especially as the likelihood of water scarcity rises. Students participating in the project work on a variety of projects for clients: title searches, assisting with articles of incorporation, community outreach and engagement, and drafting bylaws for ditch operations. Participating in the project has been a valuable opportunity to connect not only with people in the Valley, but also with other law students passionate about water law and equitable access to legal services.</span></p><p><span>Our team had the opportunity to attend the annual shareholders meeting for our ditch, Canon Ditch No. 22. Canon Ditch No. 22 flows near Antonito, which is southwest from San Luis. The shareholders were excited for the upcoming spring, summer, and fall. With winter slowly fading, everyone was ready to get the ditch up and running. Shareholders got down to business as soon as they formed a quorum. They voted to appoint a ditch rider, who would monitor and report on the condition of the ditch as water started flowing. They discussed transferred shares, and protocols for delinquent water users. Every discussion was open, and solution oriented. Canon Ditch draws from the Conejos River, which comes out of the San Juan Mountains. With below average snowpack, the members focused on late season conditions and how to plan around unpredictable flow rates this season.</span></p><p><span>Both at Congreso and the Canon Ditch shareholders meeting, we saw inspiring people tackling important water issues hands-on. Everybody we met had a deep connection with the land and the community. Ranchers talked about repurposing old bed frames to install electric fences and using old wheels to wind rope. Student speakers from the Acequia Assistance Project presented updates to our project and the legal services we provide. In every corner of the valley, people are working hard to secure and improve the future of agriculture. Canon Ditch No. 22 members were excited to have us down there. They explained how we can be useful and welcomed us into their conversations. It is such an amazing opportunity to serve such brilliant and hardworking people, and we look forward to helping the cause of farmers and ranchers in the San Luis Valley.&nbsp;</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Thu, 14 Aug 2025 16:39:23 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 816 at /center/gwc Harrison Fellow Spends Summer Immersed in International Law Practice /center/gwc/2025/08/13/harrison-fellow-spends-summer-immersed-international-law-practice <span>Harrison Fellow Spends Summer Immersed in International Law Practice </span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-08-13T09:03:18-06:00" title="Wednesday, August 13, 2025 - 09:03">Wed, 08/13/2025 - 09:03</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-08/Screenshot%202025-08-15%20at%202.50.18%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg?h=733831f8&amp;itok=XFexdgEm" width="1200" height="800" alt="Celeste Baro"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">Student Opportunities</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/69" hreflang="en">Water law</a> </div> <span>Celeste Baro</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-row-subrow row"> <div class="ucb-article-text col-lg d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>Thanks to the GWC and the David Harrison Innovations in Water and Energy Law &amp; Policy Fellowship, I had the incredible opportunity this summer to work in Jakarta, Indonesia with the Indonesia Ocean Justice Initiative (IOJI). This fellowship made it possible for me to immerse myself in international law practice in another country, gaining firsthand experience in the intersection of environmental protection, maritime security, and human rights.</span></p><p><span>During my time at IOJI, I authored a report examining the challenges of combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and the gaps in governance that allow it to persist. My research focused particularly on the high seas and distant-water fishing fleets, including their links to labor exploitation and environmental degradation. Additionally, I collaborated with a colleague on a comparative legal analysis, evaluating how environmental protection is addressed at a national scale in the United States versus Indonesia. This comparative perspective illuminated both the strengths and weaknesses of each country’s legal frameworks and underscored the importance of strong enforcement mechanisms.</span></p><p><span>One of the highlights of my fellowship was attending a conference at Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, hosted in honor of the International Day for the fight against IUU fishing. Here, IOJI presented research and recommendations to government officials, civil society organizations, and academics. This was an invaluable opportunity to see how legal and policy work translates into tangible advocacy at the national level.</span></p><p><span>Beyond the capital, I traveled with the IOJI team to more remote Indonesian islands, where we hosted community town halls to hear directly from local fishers and residents. Many shared stories of the hardships they endure due to rampant IUU fishing, insufficient maritime security, and gaps in both human rights protections and environmental law enforcement. Listening to these experiences reinforced the reality that legal and policy solutions must be grounded in the realities of those most affected.</span></p><p><span>Our work in the field was also about building solutions. We collaborated with other civil society organizations, academic partners, and government agencies to develop actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening Indonesia’s maritime governance and protecting both marine ecosystems and the communities that depend on them.</span></p><p><span>This experience gave me a deeper appreciation for the interconnectedness of environmental law, human rights law, and international maritime policy. It also showed me the vital role that lawyers can play in bridging the gap between high-level policy and on-the-ground realities.&nbsp;</span></p></div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-right col-lg"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-08/Screenshot%202025-08-15%20at%202.50.18%E2%80%AFPM.jpeg?itok=SeXs1zk8" width="1500" height="1754" alt="Celeste Baro"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 13 Aug 2025 15:03:18 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 812 at /center/gwc Colorado Law Students Attend the 71st Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute /center/gwc/2025/07/25/colorado-law-students-attend-71st-annual-natural-resources-and-energy-law-institute <span>Colorado Law Students Attend the 71st Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute</span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-25T10:37:15-06:00" title="Friday, July 25, 2025 - 10:37">Fri, 07/25/2025 - 10:37</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-07/Amy%20Walsh%2C%20Jake%20Lehrman%2C%20Danielle%20Polinske%2C%20Corinne%20Griffin%2C%20Solomon%20Biers-Ariel%2C%20Emily%20Derrenbacker.jpeg?h=71976bb4&amp;itok=M2v8Jsja" width="1200" height="800" alt="Amy Walsh, Jake Lehrman, Danielle Polinske, Corinne Griffin, Solomon Biers-Ariel, Emily Derrenbacker"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/153" hreflang="en">Energy Law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/27" hreflang="en">Student Opportunities</a> </div> <span>Jacob Lehrman</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>From July 17-19, the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law hosted the 71<sup>st</sup> Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute in Whistler, British Columbia. I would like to begin by expressing my gratitude to the Foundation for providing the funding that made this opportunity possible. Along with the Foundation Scholarship winners, Solomon Biers-Ariel and Emily Derrenbacker, the Foundation’s generosity and commitment to student engagement allowed for Colorado Law students Corinne Griffin, Danielle Polinske, and myself to attend this incredible event.</span></p><p><span>Right out of the gates, keynote speaker Professor Richard J. Lazarus gave a powerful presentation on the history of environmental law and the restrictions recent Supreme Court decisions have placed on environmental regulations. While the presentation left me frustrated by how these decisions have chipped away at hard fought environmental protections, it also filled me with a renewed sense of urgency to stay engaged and push for stronger laws to safeguard our planet.</span></p><p><span>As the conference moved forward, I found myself captivated by Professor Robin Kundis Craig’s presentation titled “Developing the Nation’s </span><em><span>Other</span></em><span> Water Resources – Saltwater Facilities and Critical Mineral Operations Meet Marine Critters.” Professor Kundis got right into the weeds of critical mineral operations on the seafloor, providing a detailed explanation of how the operations function and their implications for marine life. I am always eager to learn more about the actual the on-the-ground activities and industries that environmental laws and regulations seek to govern, and this presentation provided that and more.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Beyond the presentations, this conference provided plenty of opportunities to engage with fellow students, attorneys, and professors. It was truly inspiring to meet so many people who share a similar passion as myself and to see where that passion has taken them. Interacting with the attorneys allowed me to see the multitude of avenues a career in natural resources, energy, or environmental law can take you. It showed me that when you stay true to your personal values and pursue work you genuinely believe in, a fulfilling and successful career is always within reach.</span></p><p><span>My fellow Colorado Law attendees shared in my sense of inspiration and motivation as well. When Danielle Polinske was asked about her favorite part of the weekend was, she responded, “It was really nice getting to connect with other students from difference schools who are also passionate about environment law. Hearing about their experiences and goals reminded me that there is a whole community of future lawyers committed to making a difference in this field and it was amazing getting to join in that sense of purpose.”&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>When Corinne Griffin was asked about her experience, she spoke about the Portia’s Lunch for Women. “It was a unique experience to be in a room of all female lawyers. I’ve never been in a situation like it and found it to be very inspiring, especially hearing from individuals like Rebecca Watson. Hearing the hardships and wins of women who came before me from being one of the only few or only women in the room when practicing was enlightening and made me feel like the challenges of law school are more than worth it.”&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Simply put, the 71<sup>st</sup> Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute was an unforgettable experience.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 25 Jul 2025 16:37:15 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 808 at /center/gwc Oct 22: Ruth Wright Distinguished Lecture in Natural Resources with John Leshy /center/gwc/2025/07/16/oct-22-ruth-wright-distinguished-lecture-natural-resources-john-leshy <span>Oct 22: Ruth Wright Distinguished Lecture in Natural Resources with John Leshy</span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-16T10:27:37-06:00" title="Wednesday, July 16, 2025 - 10:27">Wed, 07/16/2025 - 10:27</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-07/John%20Leshy%20Headshot%20from%20LinkedIn_0.jpg?h=aabaf923&amp;itok=p36RZnfX" width="1200" height="800" alt="John Leshy"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/45" hreflang="en">Distinguished Lecture</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/155" hreflang="en">Events</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">Public lands</a> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-row-subrow row"> <div class="ucb-article-text col-lg d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>The Getches-Wilkinson Center is pleased to present the <strong>2025 Ruth Wright Distinguished Lecture in Natural Resources with John Leshy on Wed, Oct 22nd</strong> at the Wolf Law Building in Boulder, CO.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>On Shaky Ground: America’s Public Lands Face an Uncertain Future</strong></span></p><p><span>Laying groundwork for the Martz Symposium, Leshy will discuss current challenges to America’s public lands, starting with a proposal to include, in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) that President Trump signed into law in early July, a mandate to sell off millions of acres. While that proposal failed after triggering widespread&nbsp;opposition from western Republicans, among many others,&nbsp;the OBBBA did contain several sweeping---if little-noticed---mandates aimed at industrializing many millions&nbsp;of acres of public lands. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has taken aggressive steps, principally through deep personnel and budget cuts, to hollow out the four major federal land management agencies, apparently to persuade Americans that the federal government simply cannot manage these lands and thus make&nbsp;a case for transferring them to states and private interests.</span></p><p><span>The lecture will then address whether all this could fundamentally alter the objective of conserving large areas of land in national ownership, open to all, and managing them primarily for conservation, preservation, inspiration and&nbsp;recreation. That has been a primary&nbsp;objective of public land policy ever since the 1890s. It was then that---partly in reaction to the corruption and plunder by robber barons that marked the so-called Gilded Age---a movement flowered to conserve large areas of land in national ownership, &nbsp;leading to the public lands we see today. Now we are in a new Gilded Age, with the rich amassing unimaginable wealth while many ordinary Americans are stagnating. Leshy will conclude by discussing whether some rethinking of public land policy is in order, as calls grow for using these lands for, among other things, extracting critical minerals, upgrading the electrical grid, and siting renewable energy facilities, as support grows for streamlining governmental decision-making processes, as climate change exacerbates wildfires and droughts, and as recreational visits mushroom.</span></p><p><span><strong>Wednesday, October 22nd</strong></span></p><p><span><strong>12-12:50pm Student Lunch with John Leshy in Room 206 - no registration required</strong></span><br><br><strong>6:00-7:30:</strong><span><strong> Lecture: Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom</strong></span><br><span><strong>7:30-8:30pm - Reception for all registered attendees</strong></span></p><ul><li><span>This event is free and open to the public, but <strong>registration is required</strong> to attend and/or receive the livestream link.</span></li><li><span>In person and Virtual (Zoom) attendance available.</span></li><li><span>There will be a reception following the lecture. Details will be sent to registered participants prior to the event.</span></li></ul><p><span><strong>General Colorado CLE</strong> credits are pending for this event.</span></p><h2><a href="https://dg0000000jfrumae.my.salesforce-sites.com/events/evt__quickevent?id=a1aKW000004X13DYAS" rel="nofollow"><strong>Registration is OPEN!</strong></a><br>&nbsp;</h2><p><strong>John Leshy</strong></p><p><span>John Leshy is Professor Emeritus at the University of California College of the Law in San Francisco. His political history of America’s public lands, </span><em><span>Our Common Ground</span></em><span>, was published in 2022 by Yale University Press. Leshy was Solicitor (General Counsel) of the Interior Department throughout the Clinton Administration, and earlier served as special counsel to the Chair of the Natural Resources Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, a law professor at Arizona State University, Associate Solicitor of Interior for Energy and Resources in the Carter Administration, an attorney-advocate with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and a litigator in the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. He headed the Interior Department transition team for Clinton-Gore in 1992 and was co-lead for Obama-Biden in 2008. He’s four times been a visiting professor at Harvard Law School, from which he graduated in 1969, after earning an A.B. at Harvard College. His many publications include a book on the Mining Law of 1872 and co-authoring casebooks on public land and resources law (now in its 8th edition) and water law (now in its 7<sup>th</sup> edition).&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><strong>The Ruth Wright Distinguished Lecture in Natural Resources</strong></span></p><p><span>In 2018, the GWC received a generous gift from the Wright Family Foundation to establish the Ruth Wright Distinguished Lecture in Natural Resources in honor of her inspiring legacy as a leader in western natural resources, land conservation, and environmental policy and advocacy. With this support, we look forward to bringing this free event to our community for years to come.</span></p><p><span>As a legislator, environmentalist, and historian, Ruth Wright dedicated her career to environmental issues and activism. While a student at Colorado Law, she led efforts to preserve Boulder’s open space and limit the height of buildings in Boulder to 55 feet to protect enjoyment of the unique landscape for the ages. In 1980, she was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives, where she represented Boulder until 1994. She was also the second woman ever to become the House minority leader, a role she held from 1986 until 1992. While serving in the House of Representatives, Wright continued to be a strategic champion for the environment, and has been recognized by such groups as the Colorado Wildlife Foundation, the ACLU, the Sierra Club, and Colorado Open Lands.</span></p></div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-right col-lg"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-07/John%20Leshy%20Headshot%20from%20LinkedIn.jpg?itok=ILfs89kZ" width="1500" height="1500" alt="John Leshy"> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 16 Jul 2025 16:27:37 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 806 at /center/gwc Reflections on Julia Olson's Visit to Colorado Law /center/gwc/2025/07/14/reflections-julia-olsons-visit-colorado-law <span>Reflections on Julia Olson's Visit to Colorado Law</span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-07-14T13:40:35-06:00" title="Monday, July 14, 2025 - 13:40">Mon, 07/14/2025 - 13:40</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-07/Julia%20Olson%20and%20Mariah%20Bowman.jpg?h=db88180a&amp;itok=uA6H2Stq" width="1200" height="800" alt="Julia Olson and Mariah Bowman"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/154" hreflang="en">Wyss Scholars Program</a> </div> <span>Mariah Bowman</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>Hi, my name is Mariah Bowman and I am Colorado Law’s Wyss Scholar for the Class of 2025! Through </span><a href="https://www.wyssfoundation.org/" rel="nofollow"><span>The Wyss Foundation</span></a><span>, I had the opportunity to host one of my heroes on campus to speak with students about her hard-won wisdom and career in environmental law.</span></p><p><span>Julia Olson, founder of </span><a href="https://www.ourchildrenstrust.org/" rel="nofollow"><span>Our Children’s Trust</span></a><span>, visited us in April. Julia started Our Children’s Trust, a nonprofit law firm, to fight for youth rights to a livable climate.</span></p><p><span>Before I met Julia, I knew her nonprofit was doing important work in this arena: they recently won a first-of-its kind case where youth secured a constitutional right to a healthy climate under Montana state law. But getting to hear about Julia’s vision first-hand helped me understand just how innovative and bold Our Children’s Trust has been over the last decade, and how sorely needed this kind of attitude is in the field of environmental law.</span></p><p><span>In law school, those of us who take classes in environmental law learn a great deal about procedural environmental rights secured under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other similar laws. These laws ensure that the government must undertake certain procedures before it can harm the environment. And citizens can sue if the government harms the environment </span><em><span>without</span></em><span> taking the proper procedural steps. But all too often, the law does not actually, substantively protect Americans’ rights to a safe and healthy environment.</span></p><p><span>Our Children’s Trust boldly asserts that people have a substantive legal right to a livable climate—not just a procedural right to hold the government accountable to its procedural obligations. And, in Montana, they won.</span></p><p><span>It was inspiring to listen to Julia talk about not only their recent win, but the decade of losses that Our Children’s Trust has learned from to get there. She told us that every loss is a roadmap to success: judges will often lay out in their opinions how to better bring the case in its next iteration.</span></p><p><span>In a time when much of our country and our profession are scrambling to find courage and come up with new ways to fight for the things we believe in, Julia was the perfect leader to hear from this moment, because she has been doing both for decades. She has been imagining a new way forward and committing to that vision for a long time.</span></p><p><span>I very much enjoyed hearing her reflections on envisioning new legal theories, on building an institution that fills a void, on storytelling and communication, on how to best build on losses, and on how to build jurisprudence and a movement. Her remarks were practical, inspiring, and deeply needed in this moment.</span></p><p><span>I am very grateful to the Wyss Foundation for the opportunity to bring Julia to campus. I will be reflecting on—and carrying forward—all she shared for a long time to come.&nbsp;</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 14 Jul 2025 19:40:35 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 805 at /center/gwc Behind the Scenes: Bringing the Martz Symposium Back to Life in Print /center/gwc/2025/06/20/behind-scenes-bringing-martz-symposium-back-life-print <span>Behind the Scenes: Bringing the Martz Symposium Back to Life in Print</span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-06-20T07:02:47-06:00" title="Friday, June 20, 2025 - 07:02">Fri, 06/20/2025 - 07:02</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-06/Public%20Lands%20Image%20by%20Len%20Necefer%20200x200.png?h=55541bb6&amp;itok=lbOSF5Yt" width="1200" height="800" alt="Photo by Len Necefer"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/19"> Publications </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/47" hreflang="en">Martz Symposium</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">Public lands</a> </div> <span>Oliver Skelly</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><em><span>A look inside the editorial process that transformed two days of dialogue into Volume 36, Issue 2 of the Colorado Environmental Law Journal</span></em></p><p><span>After a five-year pandemic-induced hiatus, the </span><em><span>Martz Symposium on Public Lands</span></em><span> returned to the University of Colorado Law School this&nbsp;</span><a href="/center/gwc/2024/08/27/fri-oct-4-sat-oct-5-martz-symposium-public-lands" rel="nofollow"><span>past October</span></a><span> with renewed vigor and urgency. Now, just months later, we're proud to share how those conversations made their way into the&nbsp;</span><a href="https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/celj/" rel="nofollow"><span>pages of the Colorado Environmental Law Journal</span></a><span>. Many thanks to our authors, S. James Anaya, Matt Dietz, Alison Flint, Travis Belote, Monte Mils, Martin Nie, and Sarah Matsumoto, for their excellent work throughout the process.</span></p><p><span>Yet the process of turning conversations into law review articles is no simple feat. The transition from symposium presentations to law review articles presents unique editorial challenges. Read on for an assuredly riveting “behind the scenes” look on what happened in the Journal suite over the last six months to make it all happen.</span></p><p><span><strong>From Spoken Word to Scholarly Articles</strong></span></p><p><span>First up is tracking down your authors. This usually begins as a “call for submissions” and, if the conference’s listserv doesn’t heed the call, can often end as a “please, please, please write something for us.” Fortunately for yours truly, the 2024 Martz Symposium’s panelists and moderators—Mills, Flint, Matsumoto, and Anaya, to be specific—promptly offered up their ideas and commitments.</span></p><p><span>Once the authors are selected, the waiting game begins because, unlike the usual process where we selected pre-written articles, symposium selections will be written after the fact (i.e., the event), and generally on the subject the author presented on. Again, trepidation set in as the first-draft December deadline grew nearer; again, our authors came through.</span></p><p><span>Bear with me here because it’s about to get really interesting. The editing process is as follows: two rounds of substantive edits, onto cite checks and then a copy edit / page proof finish. The latter two rounds are where law journals across the country win their notoriety. Imagine the most monotonous task you do daily, multiply its monotony by five, then find a rule to cite for why you do it. And then do that task several hundred times over the course of a month. That’s our bread and butter, baby.</span></p><p><span>Jokes aside, these editorial rounds are what allow for law review articles to be relied upon when writing the law—be it legislators or judges. Without a swarm of staff writers and editors to do that sort of rigorous fact checking, the articles’ value to the legal field would be greatly diminished.</span></p><p><span><strong>Bridging Academia and Practice</strong></span></p><p><span>Nevertheless, the value in this issue’s contents was apparent from the get-go. We were very fortunate to work with an esteemed group of authors covering a breadth of practice areas. Take it from my very own editor’s note:</span></p><p><em><span>Issue 2 opens with S. James Anaya's incisive and experiential analysis of the International Council on Mining and Metals' 2024 Position Statement on Indigenous Peoples, examining how the world's largest mining companies are grappling with their responsibilities toward Indigenous communities. Matt Dietz, Alison Flint, and Travis Belote of the Wilderness Society then present a compelling argument for the role of landscape intactness in the BLM’s multiple-use and sustained-yield mandate, tactfully striking that elusive literary balance between law and science. Professors Monte Mills and Martin Nie then offer up the first comprehensive framework for integrating tribal co-stewardship into federal public lands planning processes by addressing a critical, inequitable gap in the current planning approaches. Colorado Law’s very own Sarah Matsumoto rounds out the articles selection in the Pacific Northwest with an Oregonian exposé on the tension between legitimate wildfire management and its exploitation by industry.</span></em></p><p><span>The symposium issue doesn't just feature the distinguished speakers—it also showcases the Journal's student editors' own scholarship. Here’s me again, too lazy to paraphrase:</span></p><p><em><span>The Journal’s lead production editor, Lara Andenoro, kicks off the student notes with a weighty analysis of Held v. Montana and how state constitutional environmental rights provisions can serve as powerful tools for climate litigation. Next up is managing editor, Aidan Bodeo-Lomicky’s investigation into the Rice's whale—the world's most endangered baleen whale—illustrating the complex intersection of environmental protection and political change. Tying a bow on Volume 36 is lead notes editor, Mason Liddell, and his comparative analysis of the Lake Erie Bill of Rights and Happy the Elephant case, revealing the challenges facing rights-based environmental and animal advocacy.</span></em></p><p><span><strong>Publication in a Changing Landscape</strong></span></p><p><span>Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the editorial process was the rapidly changing political landscape. The Journal's commitment to publishing timely, relevant scholarship meant that articles required constant updates as policies shifted. This was particularly evident in pieces dealing with federal land management, where, as anyone who reads GWC blog posts knows, there has been some regulatory change afoot over the last six months.</span></p><p><span>Still, the team's dedication to accuracy and timeliness and the authors’ hard work in keeping us up to date meant that what began as symposium presentations slowly but surely evolved into forward-looking scholarship that remains relevant even as the political landscape continues to shift.</span></p><p><span><strong>A Labor of Love</strong></span></p><p><span>The Martz Symposium issue represents more than just a collection of articles—it's a testament to the power of bringing together diverse voices to address our most pressing environmental challenges. From the distinguished speakers who trusted the Journal with their ideas to the student editors who worked tirelessly to bring those ideas to print, Volume 36, Issue 2 stands as a collaborative achievement and capstone on the return of the </span><em><span>Martz Symposium</span></em><span>.</span></p><p><span>Now,&nbsp;</span><a href="https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/celj/" rel="nofollow"><span>go read it yourself!</span></a></p><p><em><span>Volume 36, Issue 2 of the Colorado Environmental Law Journal is now available at&nbsp;</span></em><a href="https://scholar.law.colorado.edu/celj" rel="nofollow"><em><span>scholar.law.colorado.edu/celj</span></em></a><em><span>. Recordings of the symposium presentations can be found on the </span></em><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwFq2GL-i5Uij584M3kzxF-wCktaXH9A8" rel="nofollow"><em><span>Getches-Wilkinson Center's YouTube channel.</span></em></a></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:02:47 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 802 at /center/gwc Rapid Assessment of the Senate’s Proposal to Sell Off Public Lands /center/gwc/2025/06/18/rapid-assessment-senates-proposal-sell-public-lands <span> Rapid Assessment of the Senate’s Proposal to Sell Off Public Lands</span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-06-18T10:59:32-06:00" title="Wednesday, June 18, 2025 - 10:59">Wed, 06/18/2025 - 10:59</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-06/Colorado%20Law%20students%20at%20Corona%20Arch%20in%20Southeast%20Utah%2C%20which%20could%20be%20sold%20off%20to%20a%20private%20developer%20under%20the%20current%20proposal.jpg?h=8229425f&amp;itok=xMdIxCvv" width="1200" height="800" alt="Colorado Law students at Corona Arch in Southeast Utah, which could be sold off to a private developer under the current proposal"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/19"> Publications </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">Public lands</a> </div> <span>Chris Winter</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default 3"> <div class="ucb-article-row-subrow row"> <div class="ucb-article-text col-lg d-flex align-items-center" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p>The Getches-Wilkinson Center has published a white paper that provides a rapid assessment of a proposal from the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee to mandate the sale of federal public lands. This proposal was being considered as a part of an expedited budget reconciliation process with little to no meaningful public engagement.</p><p><a href="/center/gwc/media/650" rel="nofollow"><span>A Rapid Assessment of the Senate’s Proposal to Sell Off Public Lands</span></a></p><p>The updated white paper published on June 25, 2025 analyzes updated Senate language that was made available to the public on the same day.</p><p>The earlier version of the white paper dated June 18, 2025 can be viewed <a href="/center/gwc/media/644" rel="nofollow"><span>here</span></a>.&nbsp;</p><p>On June 29, 2025, Senator Mike Lee from Utah announced that he was pulling the proposed sell-off of public lands form the budget reconciliation passage. His decision comes after several republican lawmakers from western states stated that they would oppose the reconciliation package if the sell-off was included in the bill.</p><p>Many million acres of public land were at risk under this proposal, and 1.2 million acres across the west could have be privatized in only 10 years. The resulting sell off would have threatened drinking water for rural communities, cultural resources valued by Tribes and Indigenous people, recreational access, wildlife habitat, and many other important ecosystem services that support rural economies and communities.</p><p>In addition, the sell-off proposal would have marked a dramatic departure from existing public land law and policy in the United States, which requires the retention of federal public lands and management of those resources according to multiple use, sustained yield principles for the benefit of the American public. Existing law carefully circumscribes when public lands can be sold to private parties, ensuring that those transactions are designed to further the public interest in public lands and that any proceeds are reinvested into conservation and recreation. The Senate ENR proposal would have waived these existing legal protections and instead sold off federal public land to fund the federal government and offset tax breaks.&nbsp;</p><p>If you have questions, please contact Chris Winter, Executive Director at <a href="mailto:chris.winter@colorado.edu" rel="nofollow">chris.winter@colorado.edu</a>.</p></div> </div> <div class="ucb-article-content-media ucb-article-content-media-right col-lg"> <div> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--media paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle large_image_style"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/large_image_style/public/2025-06/Colorado%20Law%20students%20at%20Corona%20Arch%20in%20Southeast%20Utah%2C%20which%20could%20be%20sold%20off%20to%20a%20private%20developer%20under%20the%20current%20proposal.jpg?itok=ujhAoj4A" width="1500" height="1124" alt="Colorado Law students at Corona Arch in Southeast Utah, which could be sold off to a private developer under the current proposal"> </div> <span class="media-image-caption"> <p>Colorado Law students at Corona Arch in Southeast Utah, which could be sold off to a private developer under the current proposal</p> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:59:32 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 801 at /center/gwc Turning Hindsight into Foresight: The Colorado River at a Crossroads /center/gwc/2025/06/17/turning-hindsight-foresight-colorado-river-crossroads <span>Turning Hindsight into Foresight: The Colorado River at a Crossroads </span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-06-17T10:13:35-06:00" title="Tuesday, June 17, 2025 - 10:13">Tue, 06/17/2025 - 10:13</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-06/COL_4615.jpg?h=9f785bd9&amp;itok=Hut9jccV" width="1200" height="800" alt="Colorado River Conference"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/51" hreflang="en">Martz Summer Conference</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/69" hreflang="en">Water law</a> </div> <span>Jacob Lehrman</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>On Thursday, June 5<sup>th</sup> and Friday, June 6<sup>th</sup>, the Getches-Wilkinson Center and the Water &amp; Tribes Initiative hosted the 45<sup>th</sup> Annual Colorado Law Conference on Natural Resources. As efforts to finalize the post-2026 Interim Guidelines ramp up, the aptly titled </span><em><span>Turning Hindsight into Foresight: The Colorado River at a Crossroads</span></em><span> gathered attorneys, government officials, tribal leaders, NGO representatives, students, filmmakers, and academics to reflect on the successes and failures of the past to facilitate a discussion of how to better manage the Colorado River in the future.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Day 1 kicked off with inspiring tales of the rich history and culture of the Colorado River by author Craig Childs and professor Patty Limerick. Their impressive storytelling set the mood for the rest of the conference by underscoring the immense value of this natural resource and the importance of ensuring a more sustainable future for the river and the people who rely on it. Soon after, a panel of experts reviewed the legal principles and agreements that shaped the last set of rules for managing the Colorado River. Paired with insightful questions from the audience, the result was a truly interactive and stimulating experience.</span></p><p><span>The following presentations, which centered on the role of agriculture in shaping the region’s water budget, laid out the harsh reality that without meaningful change there is not enough water available to meet everyone’s needs. Brian Richter’s segment, </span><em><span>Reconciling the Math of Agricultural Water Use</span></em><span>, provided a hard-hitting overview of the numbers that go into agricultural water consumption, a perspective that is ever so vital in setting the course for future management guidelines. Day 1 came to a close with a speech by Roger Fragua from the Flower Hill Institute that highlighted the need for cooperation and compassion, instilling a sense of purpose and commonality that perfectly teed up a lovely happy hour reception.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Day 2 began with an update from tribal leaders and representatives on their current situations and concerns for the future. For much of our history, tribal voices have been excluded from the decision-making process, so it was deeply impactful to hear their perspectives shared with clarity, strength, and vision. Next on the agenda was a film screening of </span><em><span>What the River Knows&nbsp;</span></em><span>that not only shined a light on the environmental and cultural significance of Glen Canyon, but it gave the audience an opportunity to appreciate the raw beauty of the region through stunning cinematography and documentation. Rounding out day 2, presentations from state and federal officials uncovered the competing interests of the varied stakeholders that rely on the Colorado River. Despite some disagreements, the overarching theme of cooperation and understanding gave way to a sense of hope that an equitable agreement is within reach.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Bringing the conference to a close was a discussion on the long-term goals and aspirations for successful management of the Colorado River. Turning hindsight into foresight, this panel reflected one last time on where we came from and how those lessons of the past can empower us to achieve a brighter future and ensure the health of the Colorado River for generations to come.&nbsp;</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Tue, 17 Jun 2025 16:13:35 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 800 at /center/gwc New GWC Scholarship Explores Renewables on Public Lands /center/gwc/2025/06/16/new-gwc-scholarship-explores-renewables-public-lands <span>New GWC Scholarship Explores Renewables on Public Lands</span> <span><span>Annie Carlozzi</span></span> <span><time datetime="2025-06-16T09:40:07-06:00" title="Monday, June 16, 2025 - 09:40">Mon, 06/16/2025 - 09:40</time> </span> <div> <div class="imageMediaStyle focal_image_wide"> <img loading="lazy" src="/center/gwc/sites/default/files/styles/focal_image_wide/public/2025-06/Image%20for%20ABA%20Publication.JPG?h=4c599cb7&amp;itok=nMjDN62n" width="1200" height="800" alt="ABA Publication Photo"> </div> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-categories" itemprop="about"> <span class="visually-hidden">Categories:</span> <div class="ucb-article-category-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-folder-open"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/21"> Blog </a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/19"> Publications </a> </div> <div role="contentinfo" class="container ucb-article-tags" itemprop="keywords"> <span class="visually-hidden">Tags:</span> <div class="ucb-article-tag-icon" aria-hidden="true"> <i class="fa-solid fa-tags"></i> </div> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/153" hreflang="en">Energy Law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/63" hreflang="en">Environmental law</a> <a href="/center/gwc/taxonomy/term/133" hreflang="en">Public lands</a> </div> <span>Chris Winter and Obie Johnson</span> <div class="ucb-article-content ucb-striped-content"> <div class="container"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--article-content paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div class="ucb-article-text" itemprop="articleBody"> <div><p><span>The Getches-Wilkinson Center is pleased to announce the publication of a thought-provoking article,&nbsp;</span><em><span>“Facilitating a Green Future? Permitting Reforms and Renewables on Public Lands,”</span></em><span>&nbsp;co-authored by Chris Winter, Executive Director of the Getches-Wilkinson Center, and Obie Johnson, a Colorado Law student and Wyss Scholar.</span></p><p><span>The piece was featured as the lead article in the spring 2025 issue of the American Bar Association’s&nbsp;</span><em><span>Natural Resources &amp; Environment</span></em><span>&nbsp;journal and explores recent federal permitting reforms aimed at expanding renewable energy development on federal public lands. In recent years, the United States has accelerated its transition to a clean energy future, increasing the demand for new wind, solar, and transmission infrastructure. The article discusses many of the legal and policy initiatives spearheaded by the Biden Administration to facilitate the development of clean energy infrastructure on public lands.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span>Winter and Johnson highlight the tension between the development of clean energy infrastructure and the need to protect wildlife habitat and other natural resource values. They evaluate recent permitting reforms implemented under the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act and highlight how these new policies attempt to balance these important objectives across federal public lands.</span></p><p><span>Since the article was written, a new Administration that is less supportive of clean energy and conservation has taken office, prompting rapid changes to the legal and policy landscape. Despite these political dynamics, the long-term market trends still favor clean energy, though the full impacts of the Administration’s new policy agenda remain uncertain.</span></p><p><span>This publication reflects the GWC’s ongoing commitment to supporting scholarship and policy work that addresses the most pressing challenges in natural resources, energy, and environmental law. We are especially proud to highlight the contributions of student co-author Obie Johnson, whose work as a Wyss Scholar exemplifies the next generation of leadership in land conservation. The </span><a href="https://www.wyssfoundation.org/scholars" rel="nofollow"><span>Wyss Scholars Program</span></a><span> at Colorado Law School is made possible by the generous support and partnership of the Wyss Foundation.</span></p><p><span><strong>Read the full article online:</strong></span><br><a href="https://www.americanbar.org/groups/environment_energy_resources/resources/natural-resources-environment/2025-spring/facilitating-green-future-permitting-reforms-renewables-public-lands/" rel="nofollow">Chris Winter and Obie Johnson,<span> Facilitating a Green Future? Permitting Reforms and Renewables on Public Lands</span>, ABA <span>Natural Resources &amp; Environment</span>, Vol. 39, No. 1 (2025)</a></p><p><span><strong>Read or download the full article PDF:</strong></span><br><a href="/center/gwc/media/638" rel="nofollow">Chris Winter and Obie Johnson, Facilitating a Green Future? Permitting Reforms and Renewables on Public Lands, ABA Natural Resources &amp; Environment, Vol. 39, No. 1 (2025)&nbsp;</a></p><p><span>To learn more about the GWC’s research and student programs, visit </span><a href="/center/gwc" rel="nofollow"><span>www.colorado.edu/center/gwc</span></a><span>&nbsp;or contact us directly.</span></p></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h2> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type--ucb-related-articles-block paragraph--view-mode--default"> <div>Off</div> </div> </h2> <div>Traditional</div> <div>0</div> <div>On</div> <div>White</div> Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:40:07 +0000 Annie Carlozzi 799 at /center/gwc