The “Law of the River”: A Centennial Perspective
Anne Castle, University of Colorado

Although the Colorado River Compact serves as its cornerstone, the Law of the River has grown considerably over the past century, adapting to a host of social, economic, environmental, and political changes. This session will provide a high-level overview of how management of the Colorado River system has evolved, domestically and internationally, from 1922 to 2022. It will set the stage for deeper discussions on issues related to water allocation, environment, science, and governance.

First in Time: Native Americans & the Colorado River System
Margaret Vick, Colorado River Indian Tribes
Bidtah Becker, California’s Environmental Protection Agency
Jason Hauter, Gila River Indian Community

Native Americans are the Colorado River Basin’s original inhabitants. However, the basin’s thirty federally recognized tribes were almost entirely ignored at the Colorado River Compact negotiations, and they have only recently been invited to engage in policy discussions and collaborative efforts to solve water-related problems. This session will address the river system from a Native American perspective, touching on reserved rights claims and negotiated settlements, the importance of improving access to clean water for many tribes, the barriers to tribal water development, what tribal water rights mean for the basin’s future, and tribal participation in decision-making and problem-solving.

свернуть