Peter Nichols practices water law, water quality law, environmental law, and land and water conservation law. In addition to water law and water quality issues, Peter has particular expertise in the federal Clean Water Act and water rights, conservation easements involving water rights, and the temporary use of agricultural irrigation water rights to meet other needs.
Peter serves as special counsel to the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District on water and agricultural conservation, and as special counsel to the Lower Arkansas Valley Super Ditch Co., Inc., on water leasing for municipal use. He is also special water quality counsel for Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, and formerly served as general counsel to the Upper Black Squirrel Creek Ground Water Management District.
He has also handled water rights and environmental matters for numerous municipalities, including Englewood, Woodland Park, Monte Vista, Saguache, Crestone, Antonito, Del Norte, and Ouray, energy companies, such as Puckett Land Company and Thermo Power, industrial entities, such as Emerson Electric/Micro Motion, mining companies Gold Links Mining and the Revenue Virginius Mine, as well individual farmers and ranchers, among others.
Recent and present conservation clients of Peter’s include Colorado Open Lands, Ogallala Land & Water Conservancy (NM), Crested Butte Land Trust, Colorado West Land Trust, Palmer Land Trust, Aspen Valley Land Trust, Pitkin County, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the Colorado Water Trust, and private farmers and ranchers.
Peter served as special assistant attorney general to Colorado and New Mexico in national litigation involving the Clean Water Act, e.g., Miccosukee Tribe of Indians v. So. Florida Water Mgmt. Dist., 541 US 95 (2004). He also represented western water users in these matters, including the National Water Resources Association, Western Urban Water Coalition, Denver Water, Aurora Water, Colorado Springs Utilities, City of Boulder, Central Arizona Water Conservation District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, East Bay Municipal Water District, Salt Lake & Sandy Metropolitan Water District, Central Utah Water Conservancy District, Southern Nevada Water Authority, and Truckee Meadows Water Authority, among others.
Peter is an avid climber, skier, and cyclist, as well as a former international mountaineering guide.