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On Common Ground: An American Inheritance Podcast Launches

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 15:00:00 +0000

On Common Ground: An American Inheritance Podcast Launches Annie Carlozzi Mon, 08/17/2026 - 09:00

America holds hundreds of millions of acres of land in trust for the public — national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and the waters off our coasts. Right now, that inheritance is being taken, not in secret, but in plain sight, while the country's attention is elsewhere.

On Common Ground: An American Inheritance is a six-part documentary podcast about the immediate threats to America's public lands. In 2025, a proposal to sell three million acres of public land set off a national uproar and was defeated. It felt like a victory. But while the country fought that sale, something far more damaging passed into law in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act: a mandate to open more than 200 million acres of public land to industrial development — many times the size of the sale that was defeated.

The fight we won mattered less than the fight we lost.

Across six episodes, the series follows an unlikely and unusually broad coalition: hunters and anglers, Tribal leaders, climbers, scientists, poets, public servants, and local communities. They don't agree on everything, but they share a conviction that some places are worth protecting and passing on to the next generation.

At its heart, the series asks a simple question: What does it mean to share common ground as Americans — and what would it mean to lose it?

The series is hosted by Bill Hedden, former Executive Director of the Grand Canyon Trust, with co-host John Leshy — former Solicitor of the U.S. Department of the Interior and one of the foremost authorities on the history and law of America's public lands.

All episodes of this limited series will be available in August.

Follow along:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/on_common_ground_

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@on.common.ground

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnCommon_Ground

On Common Ground: An American Inheritance is hosted by Bill Hedden and John Leshy. Produced by Sarah Hedden, Dagny Scott, and Del Feltz. Sound engineering by Joe Flood. Additional sound editing by Grace Wiley. This series is a production of Eleven Dollar Bill, and a project of the Getches-Wilkinson Center at the University of Ģ��Ӱ�� Law School.

Listen now where you get your podcasts:
Apple
Spotify
Youtube

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Highlights from FNREL's 72d Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:24:00 +0000

Highlights from FNREL's 72d Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute Annie Carlozzi Thu, 08/13/2026 - 07:24

Anneka Lambert

On July 23-25, 2026, the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (FNREL) hosted the 72nd Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute in Seattle, Washington. Several members of the GWC team attended the event along with eight Ģ��Ӱ�� Law students.

Highlights from Section Sessions

Over the course of three days, students and staff attended lectures from different sections in the morning. These included the Environmental Law, Renewable Energy, Oil and Gas, Mining, Public Lands and Indian Law, and Water Law sections. Topics ranged from judicial, legislative, and regulatory updates to evolving environmental litigation strategies. The lectures presented on papers published by the speakers and offered different perspectives on major developments in environmental law today.

Some standout sessions included a discussion of the EPA’s Deregulatory Initiative following the March 12, 2025 Deregulation Announcement. Presenter Clarissa Howley Mills discussed the key initiatives to watch that stand to pose significant litigation risk. This includes power generation and greenhouse-gas emission standards for power plants, climate change and the final rule repealing the “endangerment” finding under the Clean Air Act, and a discussion of the competing values the EPA must navigate to regulate PFAS. Mills also highlighted the competing narratives surrounding the pivot in enforcement prioritizing compliance. The primary tension is drawn between the most efficient use of resources and effective deterrence strategies.

The session, Beyond the Citizen Suit -- Evolving Environmental NGO Strategies Amid Federal Deregulation, given by Alex Schluntz and Courtney Shepherd, looked at the role of NGOs and citizen suits amidst the changes in the federal approach to enforcement, the widening gap between violations and federal enforcement, and the potential shrinking of the enforcement landscape should these regulatory frameworks survive judicial review. Considering the changing regulatory landscape, the speakers discussed key areas for NGOs to consider for strategy development. These include using resources wisely, monitoring which cases are filed, emphasizing place-based advocacy, being selective about targets, and setting manageable goals. To secure lasting outcomes, they talked about increased state-level engagement to be more insulated and provide more procedural access points. While uncertainties have arisen out of Loper Bright, this decision does not apply to state court review of state regulations. They predicted that rulemaking will be an increasingly important tool at the state level that could help shape nationwide action. They advised regulated entities to expect multi-layered scrutiny, engage early, watch related proceedings, and to consider their reputation when decision-making.

General Sessions Key Takeaways

The general sessions addressed broader, widely applicable topics and relevant changes in the field. The Annual Environmental Law Update given by Hannah Roskey covered changes in environmental law in the past year.

On February 18, 2026, the EPA finalized the rescission of the endangerment finding. Since 2009, the EPA has promulgated and enforced Clean Air Act regulations based on the finding in Massachusetts v. EPA that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. So far, this only applies to regulations pertaining to mobile sources. As for stationary sources, following the Big Beautiful Bill Act, the EPA has proposed to remove all greenhouse gas reporting requirements for all source categories except those subject to the Waste Emissions Charge (WEC). However, this has not necessarily been received as positive for industry, as reporting requirements are required to participate in international markets.

In November 2025, the EPA published a rule that revised the definition of Waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act, which largely adopted the court’s view in Sackett decided in 2023. The court defined the “waters” subject to the Clean Water Act as only those which are “relatively permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water.” Significantly, the court invalidated the "significant nexus” standard for wetlands and streams that had previously allowed USACE to regulate such waterbodies under the Clean Water Act based on their ecological connectivity. Instead, wetlands must have a continuous surface connection to one of the Waters of the United States to be subject to the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act.

There have been both administrative and judicial developments to NEPA. The Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) was created by NEPA to provide the President with guidance on taking action and developing environmental policy in accordance with the Act. However, for decades, CEQ has issued rules and regulations regarding NEPA compliance for agencies to follow that have been largely accepted and treated as persuasive rulemaking authority. In a recent executive order, CEQ was directed to remove NEPA regulations and limited the window for public comment.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County called for a NEPA “course-correction.” This narrowed the scope of federal environmental review when implementing NEPA procedures. The Court clarified that the requisite “hard look” called for broad agency deference so long as an agency has taken “reasonable” steps to evaluate environmental impacts.

The broad range of topics covered in the three days was an excellent opportunity to expand on existing areas of knowledge and to gain exposure to novel aspects of environmental law. A more detailed breakdown of the sessions offered and speaker bios can be found here: https://www.fnrel.org/-/media/files/ai-files/ai72/ai72-handbook-2026-online.pdf?la=en.

Reflections on Student Opportunities

FNREL has been a great resource for law students looking to pursue environmental law. The Foundation provides free student memberships and sponsors students to attend the annual institute. FNREL also awards scholarships, which four Ģ��Ӱ�� Law students received. These recipients include: Alexis Padilla (2027), Celeste Baro (2027), Corrine Griffith (2027), and Mallory Tope-Lewis (2028).

Sessions tailored to students and young professionals allowed for exposure to a wide variety of practice areas and networking opportunities. The student panel was an opportunity to start a conversation with J.D. recipients who had taken different paths within the field of environmental law. In general, the panel advised students to develop and maintain their network, emphasized that a healthy, sustainable work-life balance is highly individual, spoke about how to advocate for yourself and set boundaries in the workplace, and that there are many ways to have a career in environmental law.

Portia’s Lunch for Women offered a unique, sit-down networking opportunity for women in environmental law to connect with the female-identifying students in attendance. Over lunch, our students talked with practicing attorneys about their careers, how their identity as a woman has impacted their career trajectory, and the importance of mentorship. It was particularly impactful when an attorney shared that she had gotten her current job through a woman she met at this lunch several years ago. She then revealed that same woman was sitting next to her while she told this story. Overall, this lunch was a great chance to see the existing network for women in environmental law and demonstrated the importance of developing and maintaining relationships.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we would like to give a special thank you to FNREL for hosting this event and facilitating this opportunity for our students. We appreciated the opportunity to gain exposure to different areas of environmental law, attend in-depth lectures on particular areas of interest, connect with other students pursuing environmental law, and to expand our legal network.

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2026 Ģ��Ӱ�� River Conference Summary

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:21:14 +0000

2026 Ģ��Ӱ�� River Conference Summary Annie Carlozzi Wed, 08/12/2026 - 14:21

Emilia Endara

The Getches-Wilkinson Center has published a comprehensive report documenting discussions from the 46th Annual Ģ��Ӱ�� Law Conference on Natural Resources Law. Held in partnership with the Water & Tribes Initiative, this landmark event gathered 505 in-person and remote participants to address shared challenges and evolving management on the Ģ��Ӱ�� River.

As negotiations for post-2026 river guidelines face ongoing gridlock over shortages and conservation obligations, this new publication preserves the diverse stories and lessons shared by top decision-makers. The report serves as a roadmap for navigating the river's ecological and structural changes.

Report authors: Emilia Endara, Ģ��Ӱ�� Law Student and Getches-Wilkinson Center Research Assistant and Doug Kenney, Ph.D., Director of Getches-Wilkinson Center’s Western Water Policy Program

Read the full conference summary here.

Cover image by John Weisheit.

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Now Hiring! Fall Student Research Assistants

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:54:38 +0000

Now Hiring! Fall Student Research Assistants Annie Carlozzi Wed, 08/05/2026 - 11:54

GWC Research Assistant

Position Overview

The Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment (GWC) is seeking Ģ��Ӱ�� Law students interested in natural resources, energy, and environmental law to serve as the GWC Research Assistant.

Key benefits include:

Legal research and writing, supported by GWC staff, focused on real-world challenges in water law, public lands, climate change and natural resources as applied to the American West.
Mentorship from faculty and GWC staff and access to GWC’s network of leaders on the Advisory Council.
Opportunities for original scholarship and publication.

Eligibility
Open to currently enrolled 2L, 3L or LLM students at Ģ��Ӱ�� Law.

Payment Details

This is a part-time position at $21/hr for fall and may continue into the spring semester pending funding availability. Scheduling is flexible to accommodate other commitments.
Work-study is preferred. Interested students should apply for work-study funding. Work-study information is available here: /studentemployment/work-study

Application Instructions
Submit the following as a single PDF to Annie Carlozzi (annie.carlozzi@colorado.edu) by Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 11:59pm.

Cover letter explaining your interest in the position and your optimum hours
Resume.
Law school transcript (unofficial accepted).
Writing sample.

Applications will be received by GWC staff and an interview may be scheduled. The selected Research Assistant will be notified by early September 2026.

Contact Information
For further information, please contact GWC Assistant Director Annie Carlozzi at annie@colorado.edu.

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The Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project: Reflections from Beaver Creek

Annie Carlozzi — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 20:07:49 +0000

The Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project: Reflections from Beaver Creek Annie Carlozzi Tue, 07/28/2026 - 14:07

Anneka Lambert , Emilia Endara and Mallory Tope

On July 8, the Getches-Wilkinson Center visited the Kawuneeche Valley restoration site at Beaver Creek in Rocky Mountain National Park. Upon arriving at Beaver Creek, the team met with Isabel de Silva Shewell, the lead ecologist on the project with a background in riparian restoration, who gave us a tour of the restoration site.

The 30-acre area is located at the headwaters of the Ģ��Ӱ�� River, and is surrounded by an exclosure fence tall enough to prevent moose and elk from jumping over. While we were fortunate enough to meet with Isabel and receive a guided tour, members of the public are welcome to enter through the gates and see the restoration efforts firsthand.

The Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project/Beaver Creek Site Description

The Kawuneeche Valley restoration project is an effort to restore the ecosystem impaired by human activity and the climate-driven stressors such as an unpredictable snowpack and overbrowsing by moose.

Nestled at the base of the Never Summer Mountains, Beaver Creek is one of four tributaries to the mainstem of the Ģ��Ӱ�� River included in the project’s restoration efforts. Since the 1950s, there has been a loss of 94% of surface waters associated with beaver ponds, and a 77% loss of tall willow acreage since 1999. As a result, the Kawuneeche Valley has transitioned from its historical beaver-willow wetland ecosystem with a high water table, that supported hydrophilic vegetation and was dominated by tall willow.

These changes have been driven by human diversion of water, the effects of climate change, and the loss of tall willow due to the influx of large populations of moose. The once-booming beaver population in the area declined with the loss of suitable habitat. Without beaver dams, the water saturation in the soil became insufficient to support a stable riparian buffer. Beaver Creek became loaded with sediment, and water quality declined. The site has been identified as a major contributor of sediment to the mainstem of the Ģ��Ӱ�� River.

The Impacts of Moose and Elk at Beaver Creek and Potential Solutions

In 1978-1979, moose were re-introduced into Rocky Mountain National Park on the west side. https://www.nps.gov/articles/moose-research-in-rocky-mountain-national-park.htm. Initially, only 24 moose were released and largely remained on the west side of the park. Id. Moose are typically solitary animals; however, warmer, shorter winters allowed moose to congregate and populations to boom. Id. Easier passage facilitated the movement of moose across the continental divide to the east side of the park. Id.

As of 2025, there were 240 moose estimated to be in the park. Id. Willows are a primary food source for moose. However, willows, whose stems only grow about six inches per year, do not regenerate quickly enough to support such a large moose population. Today, the site is marked by what Isabel referred to as “zombie willows,” or willows that have been chewed down by moose, leaving only the woody stems of the plants.

Evidence of the former beaver-willow ecosystem is found throughout the site. Depressions indicate where beaver dam surface waters had existed in previous decades; willows that had been chewed down to woody stubs have new growth, and wetland vegetation such as sedges dominate the area.

In addition to constructing beaver dam analogs, the park service is attempting to address moose populations. Exclosure fences have been successful in keeping moose and elk from entering the restoration site. However, this is only one component of long-term population management measures. Discussions of potential solutions include measures put in place in 2008 by the Elk and Vegetation Management Plan (EVMP). In addition to exclosure fences, these efforts also include the culling of individual moose. Hunting is not permitted in the park, and moose have no natural predators in the area to keep populations in check. Therefore, such measures may be necessary to restore balance to the ecosystem.

Beaver Dam Analogs

The main tool utilized to restore the site to a functioning beaver-willow wetland ecosystem are beaver analogs. Beaver analogs are wooden structures that span the creek in a manner that mimics beaver dams. They raise the water table upstream, increase channel complexity, promote resilience to high runoff in the snowpack, trap fine sediment, and store water across the floodplain. The analogs were built using lodgepoles from the surrounding area to mimic the natural ecosystem sourced from fuel-mitigation events in the park.

Restoration efforts are already yielding encouraging results. Groundwater quantity is continuously monitored at the site. Since the installation of the analogs in 2024; levels have slowly and steadily risen. Water quality at the site has improved, and benthic microorganisms highly sensitive to water quality have reappeared in the creek.

With the diminishment of willows over the years, invasive plant species such as the Canada Thistle flourished. Since the start of the project, Isbabel said there has been an evident decrease in Canada Thistle, leaving more room for willows to grow.

Takeaways and Further Information

Overall, the GWC would like to thank Isabel and all those at RMNP and the Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project for this fantastic opportunity. The team greatly enjoyed seeing the site first-hand, looking at the impact of overbrowsing, and how the ecosystem has begun to heal. Being on the headwaters of the Ģ��Ӱ�� River was a reminder of all the components that go into maintaining a healthy, thriving river that can support the surrounding habitat and those downstream.

If you are interested in more information about the Kawuneeche Valley Restoration Project, please visit their website at: https://www.nps.gov/romo/the-kawuneeche-valley-restoration-collaborative.htm

If would like to help out, please consider volunteering at a future event. Previous volunteer opportunities have included revegetation efforts such as willow staking. There is potential for volunteers to help build and maintain materials for dam infrastructure at events in the future. More information can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/romo/getinvolved/volunteer.htm

For updates on the Kawuneeche Valley, you can sign up for their newsletter at: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/WKvPewd

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Low Point for Ģ��Ӱ�� River Storage

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 13:45:07 +0000

Low Point for Ģ��Ӱ�� River Storage Annie Carlozzi Wed, 07/15/2026 - 07:45

Jack Schmidt , Anne Castle , John Fleck , Eric Kuhn , Kathryn Sorensen , Katherine Tara

July 12, 2026 marked the date that the combined storage in Lake Mead and Lake Powell reached a new all time low. Stored water reserves in the two reservoirs are now less than they were before Lake Powell was constructed. The last time the combined total live storage in these two workhorse reservoirs in the Ģ��Ӱ�� River Basin was this small was May 23, 1957, almost 70 years ago, when water was stored only in Lake Mead. Our ability to offset consumptive use that exceeds natural supply with reservoir releases is not infinite and is speedily diminishing. Water use must be reduced.

A Significant Moment in the Ģ��Ӱ�� River Water Supply Crisis

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Thirst for Data: State Responses to Data Center Water Use

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 23:11:18 +0000

Thirst for Data: State Responses to Data Center Water Use Annie Carlozzi Thu, 07/09/2026 - 17:11

Daniel Anderson

Thirst for Data: State Responses to Data Center Water Use is a new Getches-Wilkinson Center report on Artificial Intelligence, water, and legal reform. AI is fueling a data center development boom—but what does it mean for our water future? Data centers consume large amounts of water, are increasingly located in the arid West, and are projected to grow exponentially in the coming years. With the federal government standing aside, states are struggling to respond swiftly and effectively to their citizens' concerns. This new paper examines emerging state legislation across the country, identifying four major water policy approaches: reporting, conservation, incentives, and prior appropriation requirements. Whether you're a policymaker, researcher, industry leader, or concerned citizen, this analysis offers a timely snapshot at one of the fastest-evolving intersections of technology and water policy.

Report authors: Daniel Anderson, J.D., Getches-Wilkinson Water Law Fellow and Sydney Stellato, Ģ��Ӱ�� Law Student, Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellow

Read Thirst for Data: State Responses to Data Center Water Use

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Aug 21: The Ģ��Ӱ�� River's Uncertain Water Future Explained with Brad Udall

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 15:57:10 +0000

Aug 21: The Ģ��Ӱ�� River's Uncertain Water Future Explained with Brad Udall Annie Carlozzi Thu, 07/09/2026 - 09:57

Brad Udall presents an engaging look at the Ģ��Ӱ�� River in an era of climate change. Discover the challenges facing the river and the choices that will shape its future.

This event is co-hosted by Ģ��Ӱ�� Mountain Club Boulder Group and Getches-Wilkinson Center.

Friday, August 21, 2026
6:00-7:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)
Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom

In person only. Zoom will not be offered for this event.

Free and Open to the public

Register Here

Brad Udall

Bradley H. Udall is a Senior Water and Climate Research Scientist / Scholar at Ģ��Ӱ�� State University’s Ģ��Ӱ�� Water Center. His expertise includes hydrology and related policy issues of the American West, with a focus on the Ģ��Ӱ�� River. Brad was a co-author of the 2009 and 2018 National Climate Assessments and a contributing author to the 2014 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 5^th Assessment. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles on the causes of the 21^st century declining Ģ��Ӱ�� River flows and on the ongoing aridification of the Western United States. Brad has testified in both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives on the impacts of climate change on water resources and provided input to multiple National Academy of Science panels. Brad was formerly the Director of the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and Environment at the University of Ģ��Ӱ�� Law School and Director of the University of Ģ��Ӱ�� - NOAA Western Water Assessment. In 2024 he was awarded the David Getches Flowing Waters award from the Ģ��Ӱ�� Water Trust. Brad has an engineering degree from Stanford and an MBA from Ģ��Ӱ�� State University.

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Sept 10: GWC and AILP Community Social

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:13:59 +0000

Sept 10: GWC and AILP Community Social Annie Carlozzi Wed, 07/08/2026 - 12:13

Community Social for Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni

Thursday, September 10th, 2026 5-7pm in Schaden Commons.

Please join the Getches-Wilkinson Center and the American Indian Law Program for an informal happy hour and community-building event. Learn more about Ģ��Ӱ�� Law School’s nationally ranked environmental and American Indian law programs and meet fellow students, experienced faculty and alumni. Everyone is welcome! 1L students are encouraged to attend.

And you’ll enjoy free food and drink!

Co-hosted by ELS, NALSA, and ELJ.

The event is free to attend. Registration is required - Register here

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The Ģ��Ӱ�� River Water Supply Crisis in a Few Graphs: Part 1

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 17:25:18 +0000

The Ģ��Ӱ�� River Water Supply Crisis in a Few Graphs: Part 1 Annie Carlozzi Thu, 06/18/2026 - 11:25

Jack Schmidt , Anne Castle , Eric Kuhn , Kathryn Sorensen , Katherine Tara

We almost always focus on just Lake Powell and Lake Mead, but there are 46 reservoirs in the Ģ��Ӱ�� River Basin. This new paper by Jack Schmidt and the usual suspects looks at the state and trends of total Basin storage and the “Ratchet Effect” when we consistently use more water than Nature supplies.

The Ģ��Ӱ�� River Water Supply Crisis in a Few Graphs: Part 1

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