CO river image with conference program cover2026 May Be Too Late: Hard Conversations About Really Complicated Issues

Was held Thursday, June 16 and Friday, June 17, 2022Wolf Law Building

Wittemyer Courtroom

This year marks the 42nd Annual Conference on Natural Resources at Colorado Law. Over its rich history, the conference has addressed many different natural resource issues. In more recent years, the Center’s summer conference has explored the major issues in water law and policy in the West.

There is no debate – demands for water across the Colorado River Basin exceed the shrinking supply. Chronic drought, record heat, increasing aridity, and rampant wildfires are diminishing the Basin’s overall health and resilience. The historically low levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell have also brought about a looming energy crisis. To ensure a sustainable future, these harsh realities will require innovative collaborations. We look forward to bringing together a broad array of expertise and diverse perspectives from across the region to candidly discuss these complex challenges. We examine innovative options to advance sustainable water management, expand basin-wide conservation in every sector, and strengthen watershed resilience.

Conference Program