For more than half a century, environmental and natural resources law has been a distinguishing strength of the University of Colorado Law School. Our commitment to teaching and research in these areas complements the school’s physical location in the Rocky Mountain West—a region defined by its vast natural resources, public lands and parks, and many American Indian reservations. Ranked seventh in the nation, Colorado Law’s Environmental, Energy, and Natural Resources program is one of the strongest and deepest of its kind.
This is due in part to The Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (GWC). The GWC endeavors to serve the people of the American West, the nation, and the world through creative, interdisciplinary research; bold, inclusive teaching; and innovative problem-solving to further true sustainability for our use of the lands, waters, and environment. Their mission is driven by a broader agenda and aspirations for deeper influence in law, policy, and practice. The GWC has developed a substantial body of work, including pioneering research, articles, books, conferences, workshops, and public lectures.
This Earth Day, we are thrilled to highlight the GWC’s work around water rights and policy – one of many buckets of work the center touches upon. This topic has been at the forefront of environmental law conversations for many decades. Read on to learn more about how The GWC is working to address and raise awareness around the real-world challenges of water law and policy.
Water Law Fellows Program
The GWC employs two outstanding early career attorneys to serve as GWC Water Law Fellows. Fellows work on the most pressing water law reform issues of the day under the guidance of the GWC and in partnership with leaders from the non-profit, government, and private sectors. The 2023-2025 fellows are Frannie Monasterio and Andrew Teegarden.
“I’ve heard many times during my experience that water is life, water is sacred, water is a human right,” said Monasterio, “These all resonate with me much more deeply than when I started. I had no idea that communities in the U.S. experience water insecurity. I’ve become more grateful that I have safe, reliable access to water, and I enjoy that I get to spend my time researching how to make water safe, reliable, and accessible.” 
The overarching objective of the program is to create a matchless educational and mentoring experience that prepares the Fellows to become leaders in the field. During the two-year program, the Fellows actively engage in water law reform in the public interest sector, and hone their leadership, communication, advocacy, and research skills. The Fellows work with GWC faculty and staff and with partner organizations on a wide array of emerging issues. This work is done at every level — federal, state, tribal, county, city, and international — and could include developing proposed legislation and regulations, policy implementation, and filing amicus briefs.
“One of the things I enjoy most about the Water Law Fellows program has been the ability to work with the Acequia Assistance Project as a supervising attorney,” said Teegarden. “My group in particular is focused on helping Acequia members fill out applications for USDA's RCPP funding program which provides agricultural operators money to help upgrade their water infrastructure.”
Additionally, the Fellows have full access to the extraordinary resources and institutional support of the Law School. To encourage multi-disciplinary solutions, the Fellows will be able to draw on expertise in departments across the University and nearby national laboratories. Under the guidance of the GWC, Fellows also work with experts in NGOs, government, and the private sector.
Acequia Assistance Program
The Acequia Assistance Project is a joint effort by the Getches-Wilkinson Center, Colorado Open Lands, and the Sangre de Cristo Acequia Association to provide low or no-cost legal assistance and educational materials to Colorado’s acequia communities. The project represents dozens of community members every year and has helped to protect the traditional and sustainable farming practices of acequia communities.
Acequia is an Arabic word that means "water bearer." An acequia is a physical irrigation system – a ditch — but the term "acequia" in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado also describes a philosophy about water and community: that water is so essential to life that it is a communal resource, one which must be shared. This philosophy shapes the intersection of the human and natural environments in the Southern Colorado watersheds in which acequias are found and has created a resilient natural and cultural system. Acequias are found along the southernmost part of Colorado – including four of the state’s poorest counties: Costilla, Conejos, Huerfano, and Las Animas.
While acequias are legally treated as any other water right within the prior appropriation system in Colorado, their governance system makes them unique. All irrigators along an Acequia work together to ensure each landowner's water needs are met. For example, in times of water scarcity, ditches cooperate to ensure an equitable distribution of water, or when that is not physically possible, a sharing of fields. As we look to the future, acequias will offer an interesting model of alternative water administration and use. However, for acequias to remain viable, the acequia community must first address some key challenges. For generations, acequias have operated informally – with many remaining unincorporated and without bylaws.
"This is a vibrant community that's knows the value of their way of life and has been willing to fight against long odds to maintain it," said Gregor MacGregor, Director of the Acequia Assistance Project. "They are a great example to look to for inspiration!"
2024 GWC Conference on the Colorado River
The Getches-Wilkinson Center and Water & Tribes Initiative will be co-convening the 2024 Conference on the Colorado River titled “Next Chapters on the Colorado River:
Short-Term Coping, Post-2026 Operations, and Beyond” on Thurs., June 6 and Fri, June 7 at the Wolf Law Building.
“The rules that control how Colorado River water is delivered to almost 40 million users are expiring at the end of 2026, which is a tremendous source of uncertainty for the US, Mexico, the seven basin states, 30 tribal nations, and many stakeholder groups,” said Doug Kenney, Western Water Policy Program Director at the GWC. “An Environmental Impact Statement process is underway to develop new rules to ensure continued deliveries while maintaining adequate storage levels in Lakes Powell and Mead. It's a very difficult, and very politically charged, process, especially given the growing impacts of climate change in the region, and the looming federal elections that may throw an additional wrench into an already complicated process.”
“While it's true that the recent news on the Colorado River has all been pretty bleak as reservoir levels have dropped and interstate tensions have risen, the reality is that many people are working hard to find solutions,” Kenney shared. “Our conference brings together all the key policy-makers and stakeholder groups to discuss those efforts and to explore new opportunities. There's a lot of good things being accomplished. That is a hopeful message.”
We hope you join us for what will be sure to be an engaging two-day conference bringing together thought leaders from across the Colorado Basin. Register today.