Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment

john leshy is at University of Colorado Law School! We enjoyed lively conversation over breakfast with students and faculty. Please join us for conversation over lunch in Room 206! And his evening lecture at 6pm. It's a busy day at GWC! We hope to see you there!

Thousands of abandoned hardrock mines across the West continually pollute vital waterways today. The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 allows limited, liability-shielded cleanups by groups like nonprofits and state agencies. If thoughtfully managed, this Good Samaritan pilot program could meaningfully shape future nationwide cleanup of America’s toxic mining legacy. Read "Could Good Samaritans Fix America’s Abandoned Hardrock Mine Problem?" by GWC Water Law Fellow Daniel Anderson: https://lnkd.in/gCP9mgvX

It's a busy week at GWC and we hope you are able to join us in person or virtual for two incredible events focused on #publiclands! Prof. john leshy's Lecture "On Shaky Ground: America’s Public Lands Face an Uncertain Future" on Wednesday, Oct 22nd - it's free! AND/OR The Martz Symposium on Thurs, Oct 23rd & Fri, Oct 24th "Public Lands in Public Hands: Reflections on 50 Years of Retention Policy." We have over 25 moderators and speakers joining us! All events take place at University of Colorado Law School. Register now: https://lnkd.in/gAF6e5wY #gwccololaw #publiclandsinpublichands #cuboulder #coloradolaw

Reminder: Green Amendments for the Generations Today at 12pm in Room 301 Current students: Join University of Colorado Law School Environmental Law Society and GWC for a talk with Maya van Rossum, author of Green Amendments and founder of Green Amendments For The Generations, and Wendy Kerner who is spearheading the movement for a Green Amendment in Colorado. They will give a presentation on Green Amendments, and we will have time for a brief Q&A. Lunch will be provided!

Looking forward to moderating this panel at the University of Colorado next week, featuring Dr. Mamie Parker, Scott Fitzwilliams, and Timothy Whitehouse. We'll explore the near and long-term impacts of layoffs, budget cuts, and reorganization plans on the management of America's lands, waters, and wildlife. And we'll begin to think about what comes next: how to re-imagine and rebuild. https://lnkd.in/eB_u2Kd7

Meet our Martz Symposium on Public Lands Moderators and Panelists! The symposium will convene experts in public lands law and policy, advocates from across the political and policy spectrum, including Tribal leaders, experts on public opinion, and many other respected voices. Public Lands in Public Hands: Reflections on 50 Years of Retention Policy Who Will Speak for the Public Lands and What Will They Say Sarah Krakoff, Moses Lasky Professor, University of Colorado Law School   Public Opinion on Public Lands – A Deep Dive into the Conservation in the West Poll Kathryn Hahne, MBA, Director, New Bridge Strategy   The Affordable Housing Question   Bret Birdsong, Professor of Law, William S. Boyd School of Law, University of Nevada-Las Vegas Arthur Gailes, Research Fellow, American Enterprise Institute Dan Gibbs, Colorado Department of Natural Resources Rudy Soto, National American Indian Housing Council Eric Novak, Praxis Consulting Group, LLC   Debating The Constitutional Foundation Chris Winter, Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment john leshy, University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) Ethan Blevins, Pacific Legal Foundation   The Land Back Movement and Public Lands Vanessa Racehorse, University of Colorado Law School Gussie Lord, Earthjustice Kekek Stark, The University of Montana School of Law Rebecca Tsosie, University of Arizona, James E. Rogers College of Law   Agency Funding and Staffing – Who Will Manage the Public Lands Matt Lee-Ashley, Former Chief of Staff and Director of Policy and Programs, White House Council on Environmental Quality                                 Mamie Parker, Former Head of Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Timothy Whitehouse, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Scott Fitzwilliams, Former Supervisor, White River National Forest   Fireside Chat with David Bernhardt, former Secretary of the Department of the Interior   The Great Balancing Act - Evolving Issues in Multiple Use Management Alison Flint, The Wilderness Society Louis Geltman, Outdoor Alliance Natalie L., Nashoba Consulting LLC • Tribal Public Lands Alliance Kathleen (Katie) Schroder, Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP Mark Squillace, University of Colorado Law School Read full bios and register to attend the Martz Symposium on the GWC website! https://lnkd.in/gw6SwGWh                                           

Keep up with the latest media mentions and faculty and staff activities, featuring Sarah Krakoff, Chris Winter, Mark Squillace, Paul Campos, Ann Lipton, Adam Sopko, and Vanessa Racehorse. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/gKstzPij

Congratulations to University of Colorado Law School student Meryl Compton (’27) for being awarded the Charles N. Woodruff Fellowship! The fellowship was established in memory of Charles Woodruff, a highly successful water resources lawyer, to promote excellence in the practice of natural resources law. Meryl is primarily interested in energy and public utilities law and hopes to contribute to regulatory solutions that facilitate a clean, equitable energy future. Meryl's interest in western land management and sustainable energy was inspired by her experience growing up in Colorado and spending time throughout the West.    Prior to law school, Meryl worked at Colorado-based company, E Source, where she managed a team focused on developing demand-side management data tools for energy utilities. She also contributed to research on beneficial electrification and regulatory solutions to promote decarbonization. Before E Source, she worked for the Public Interest Network doing environmental and consumer protection policy research.    Meryl graduated from Davidson College, where she majored in environmental studies and economics. At Colorado Law, Meryl is involved with the Environmental Law Society, Acequia Assistance Project, and Environmental Law Journal. She is also a Legislation and Regulation tutor. As the current Woodruff Fellow, she is working on a research project related to a federal insurance program for grazing land. https://lnkd.in/gj3QwAbi #gwccololaw #naturalresourceslaw

We are honored to receive generous support from the Walton Family Foundation for the Getches-Wilkinson Center’s Western Water Policy Program. For more than four decades, this program has been a trusted source of insight and innovation in western water law and policy—convening leaders, generating ideas, and shaping reforms that ripple far beyond Colorado.    This gift comes at a pivotal time. Few issues are more consequential to the future of the American West than how we manage water. With the Foundation’s partnership, the WWPP will continue to drive forward new thinking and practical solutions—helping policymakers, advocates, and communities navigate the challenges ahead.

Friends, I will have the pleasure of debating Professor John Leshy on the constitutional foundations of the public lands system on October 23, 2025, at the University of Colorado Law School. Professor Leshy is one of the most knowledgeable scholars on public lands in the country. Please join us in person or virtually! Link with more details in the comments.