Water Law

Description:

Limit: 50 students

This course explores legal schemes for securing and allocating water rights in surface water and groundwater for private and public uses in the United States. We will examine the riparian and prior appropriation doctrines of water allocation, groundwater management regimes, federal water management and regulation, and interstate and transboundary allocation devices. We will also consider the evolving role of science, economics, and policy in water allocation law. Evaluation will be based on a series of short papers and in-class exercises and participation. This class can be used for the Environmental Certificate and to satisfy the B writing requirement.