Student Opportunities

Colorado Law Names Two Wyss Scholars for 2025-2026

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 23:03:33 +0000

Colorado Law Names Two Wyss Scholars for 2025-2026 Annie Carlozzi Mon, 03/31/2025 - 17:03

University of Colorado Law School students Obie Johnson (’25) and Andrea Shipton (’25) have been named the 2025-2026 Colorado Law Wyss Scholars in U.S. Lands Conservation. The Wyss Scholars Program, funded by the Wyss Foundation, is awarded to two Colorado Law students each year, supports graduate-level education for promising leaders in United States land conservation. Recipients receive generous financial assistance to cover the full cost of one year of law school, as well as funds for internship opportunities, research assistance, and postgraduate support. Wyss Scholars learn the latest in conservation law and policy and apply that knowledge in careers at land management agencies and nonprofit conservation groups.

Obie Johnson’s interest in public land conservation derives from his childhood along the Gulf Coast of Florida, which instilled in him not just a deep respect for nature but also a bitterness toward humankind’s harmful treatment of it. After moving to Colorado in 2017 for college, these values quickly extended to our public lands through his enjoyment of rock climbing, birding, admiring the very different geology from Florida, and simply listening to the sound of the creeks go by. These experiences combine to impassion Obie to protect every cog and wheel of our public lands.

Since beginning at Colorado Law in 2023, Obie’s guiding principle has been to involve himself as much as possible in the environmental law sphere. This began with research work for the Getches-Wilkinson Center in the Fall of his 1L year and has continued through membership in the Environmental Law Journal, Natural Resources Clinic, Environmental Law Society, and the Colorado Law Animal Legal Defense Fund. Obie’s career goals mirror his work experience with the Center for Biological Diversity and his upcoming summer internship with Earthjustice’s Florida Regional Office; he wants to spend his days litigating to protect the environment as well as writing to advocate for more fundamental reform of our often-inadequate environmental statutes.

Andrea Shipton became interested in public land conservation due to enriching outdoor and conservation experiences as a child, teenager, and young adult in the Adirondack Park of upstate New York. From living alone in a mountaintop cabin and working as a summit steward to interning with the Adirondack Council, the largest environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Park, she quickly became passionate about conserving wildlife and outdoor recreation spaces. As she pursued her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies at Hamilton College, I became fascinated by the unique management structure of the Adirondacks–the interspersing of private and public lands, the constitutionally-protected state forest preserve, and the jigsaw puzzle of land classifications determining allowable usage on each tract. Fascinated by this structure and driven by a desire to help protect such landscapes, Shipton decided to pursue law school and study natural resources law—but not before taking a gap year to work (among other jobs) as a ski instructor at Winter Park and a conservation associate at Resource Central, a �鶹ӰԺ-based sustainability nonprofit.

In law school, Shipton has had the opportunity to intern with two federal agencies (the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency) which have granted her key, up-close exposure to some of the nation’s most important environmental laws and conservation regulations. She has also worked as a research assistant for Professor Nadav Orian Peer, where she investigated different ways organizations participate in “climate washing” (making misleading or incorrect claims about the climate benefits of one’s actions) and potential theories of liability for holding organizations responsible.

Outside of her studies, Shipton is the President of the Adventure Club, the Vice President of the Environmental Law Society, and the incoming Managing Editor of the Colorado Environmental Law Journal. She spends nearly all of her free time on public lands, whether that’s running on �鶹ӰԺ’s incredible trail network, camping in Colorado’s state parks on summer weekends, skinning up mountains at sunrise, or competing in skimo and trail races. She is beyond excited to be returning to the environmental nonprofit world this summer as a law clerk in Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountain Office. After law school, she plans to pursue a career in public interest natural resources law in the Mountain West. She hope to help protect public lands while also promoting access to these spaces, fostering resiliency amidst the climate crisis, and amplifying historically ignored voices in the conservation conversation.

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GWC Welcomes New Water Law Fellow

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 18:41:50 +0000

GWC Welcomes New Water Law Fellow Annie Carlozzi Mon, 03/31/2025 - 12:41

Colorado Law is ranked seventh in the nation for environmental law with the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (GWC) advancing its commitment to educating young leaders through the Water Law Fellows Program. Now in its fourth year, the program addresses the rising demand for thoughtful policy initiatives at all levels of government by training the next generation of outstanding leaders in sustainable water management, water law, and policy.

With the accelerated need to address extraordinary circumstances in an unprecedented era, Colorado Law and the GWC are uniquely situated as a premier pipeline of diverse future leaders in environmental and natural resources matters.

The Water Law Fellows Program is not just an educational experience — it’s a career accelerator. This intensive multidisciplinary program equips Fellows with the skills and knowledge to produce high-quality work that influences law reform in the public interest, setting them up for successful careers in environmental law and policy.

Fellows conduct reform-oriented research on the most pressing issues in their field and interact with public and private sector leaders to inform policymaking, all while under the mentorship of leading researchers. Colorado Law and the GWC are known for distinguished faculty, a long record of public service, an extraordinary body of research and an interdisciplinary curriculum that includes unique on-the-ground learning.

The Getches-Wilkinson Center is thrilled to announce that Daniel Anderson will be joining the team as a Water Law Fellow in August 2025. Daniel received a B.A. in Theological and Reconciliation Studies from Seattle Pacific University and will receive a J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School in May 2025. Before law school, Daniel served in the U.S. Peace Corps in Morocco and worked as a housing navigator for veterans and people exiting incarceration.

In law school, Daniel researched the interstices between instream flow rights, wildlife law, American Indian water rights, and abandoned hardrock mines cleanup. He plans to continue exploring these same interests as a Water Law Fellow alongside the GWC staff and partners. He gained further experience with western water law working for Judge Todd Taylor, Water Judge for Division One, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office’s Natural Resource & Environment Section, and the City Attorney’s Office for the City of �鶹ӰԺ. He is drawn to the task of researching and advocating for western water law reform due to his conviction that water management is an environmental justice issue as well as his personal connection to clean, flowing water as an angler.

In his free time, Daniel enjoys fly fishing, rock climbing, playing complicated board games, and backpacking in the Rockies with his wife Samantha and chaotic dog, Decker.

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Celeste Baro (Colorado Law '27) Named 2025 David Harrison Innovations in Water and Energy Law & Policy Fellow

Annie Carlozzi — Sat, 29 Mar 2025 20:41:09 +0000

Celeste Baro (Colorado Law '27) Named 2025 David Harrison Innovations in Water and Energy Law & Policy Fellow Annie Carlozzi Sat, 03/29/2025 - 14:41

University of Colorado Law School student Celeste Baro ('27) is this year’s David Harrison Innovations in Water and Energy Law & Policy Fellow. The Fellowship, initiated in 2010 by partners of the law firm of Moses, Wittemyer, Harrison and Woodruff, P.C. in honor David L. Harrison (Law ‘71), is awarded each year to a Colorado Law student on the basis of academic performance, commitment to public service, and interest in the study of water and energy law and policy. To the extent practicable, each Harrison Fellow will focus on a specific project where the partner organization is advancing innovative solutions for sustainable management of water or related energy resources outside the United States.

Celeste is a first-year law student from Miami, FL, with a passion for sustainability and marine conservation. Holding both a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Pre-Law and a Master’s in International Business from the University of Florida, Celeste combines her academic expertise with a deep-rooted commitment to environmental protection. Raised surrounded by the waters of Miami, she has always felt a strong connection to the environment, which has driven her to pursue a career in environmental law. Through the Harrison Fellowship, Celeste looks forward to advancing her legal expertise in the environmental sector, particularly in marine conservation efforts, and using her knowledge to create meaningful change in preserving natural resources for future generations.

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2025/26 Natural Resource and American Indian Law Course Preview

Annie Carlozzi — Sun, 09 Mar 2025 22:04:47 +0000

2025/26 Natural Resource and American Indian Law Course Preview Annie Carlozzi Sun, 03/09/2025 - 16:04

The natural resource and American Indian Law faculty have scheduled a meeting at noon on Tuesday, March 11 to share with you information about the courses that our faculty will be offering in these fields during the 2025-2026 academic year. We will meet in room 207. Lunch will be provided. Please join us.

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The Legal Effect of Executive Orders - Professor Panel March 18th

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 21:07:19 +0000

The Legal Effect of Executive Orders - Professor Panel March 18th Annie Carlozzi Mon, 03/03/2025 - 14:07

A Colorado Law Student Event

Presented by: The Byron White Center, The Getches-Wilkinson Center, and the American Constitution Society

Panelists: Professor Daria Roithmayr, BWC Director Deep Gulasekaram, and GWC Director Chris Winter

Tuesday, March 18th 12-12:50pm in Room 207

Join us for a panel discussion regarding the slurry of executive orders that Trump has passed over the past month that he has been in office, impacting several (if not all) areas of law. This panel's purpose is to discuss each of the executive orders, how they compare to those in previous administrations, and the extend of the orders' legal impact. Lunch will be provided, so please arrive early to grab your food and a seat!

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Now Hiring! Spring AND Summer Student Research Assistants

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 16:28:40 +0000

Now Hiring! Spring AND Summer Student Research Assistants Annie Carlozzi Mon, 02/03/2025 - 09:28

The Getches-Wilkinson Center (GWC) is seeking Colorado Law students interested in natural resources, energy, and environmental law to serve as the GWC Summer Research Assistant. The Spring and Summer Research Assistants will work closely with the GWC staff, including the Executive Director and GWC Senior Water Fellow who will help direct the student’s research in the areas of water law, public lands, climate change, and natural resources as applied to the American west.

The Research Assistant will be responsible for conducting research and producing written content for the GWC. Potential projects include work on ongoing research, current development in management and conservation for federal public lands, legislative reforms to conservation laws, and assisting interested partners with the upcoming Colorado River interim guidelines renegotiations.

Position Details
This is a part-time position for either the spring or summer and may continue into the fall semester pending funding availability. Work hours are flexible. Candidates should state their desired spring or summer position as well as optimum hours in their cover letter. This position is paid at a rate of $20.00 USD per hour.

University of Colorado Law Students interested in natural resources, energy, and environmental law are eligible to apply. Work-study is preferred. Interested students should apply for work-study funding. Work-study information is available here: /studentemployment/work-study

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, early application encouraged.

Application Instructions
To apply, send the following application materials:
Resume
Cover Letter
Transcript
Writing Sample
by email to Annie Carlozzi, GWC Assistant Director, at annie.carlozzi@colorado.edu.

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GWC Scholarships and Fellowships Application Deadline Friday, Jan 17

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 18:29:31 +0000

GWC Scholarships and Fellowships Application Deadline Friday, Jan 17 Annie Carlozzi Mon, 01/06/2025 - 11:29

GWC is accepting applications for Summer 2025 and Academic Year 25/26 Scholarships and Fellowships in Natural Resources Law.

The deadline to apply is Friday, January 17, 2025.

Opportunities include:

The Wyss Scholars Program for U.S. Lands Conservation

The Wyss Foundation is a private, charitable foundation dedicated to land conservation in the American West. The Wyss Scholars Program seeks to identify and nurture a new generation of leaders on western land conservation issues by providing financial support to students who are committed to careers focused on western conservation.

Two Wyss Scholars will be selected each year on the basis of leadership potential, commitment to furthering land conservation in the American West, commitment to pursuing a career in nonprofit or public sector conservation, financial need, and academic strength. While experience living or working in the West is preferred, all students interested in western lands and sustainability issues are encouraged to apply.

The Harrison Fellowship in International Water Law

The Innovations in Water and Energy Law & Policy Fellowship, initiated in 2010 by partners of the law firm of Moses, Wittemyer, Harrison and Woodruff, P.C. in honor David L. Harrison (Law ‘71), is awarded each year to a Colorado Law student on the basis of academic performance, commitment to public service, and interest in the study of water and energy law and policy. To the extent practicable, each Harrison Fellow will focus on a specific project where the partner organization is advancing innovative solutions for sustainable management of water or related energy resources outside the United States.

Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellowship

The Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment (GWC) at the University of Colorado Law School is seeking an outstanding current 2L (or rising 3L) as the next Conscience Bay Company Western Water Policy Fellow. Fellows will work on the most pressing water law reform issues of the day under the guidance of the GWC and in partnership with leaders from the non-profit, government, and private sectors.

The Charles N. Woodruff Memorial Scholarship - Admissions office will announce the application process in Spring 2025.

A recording of the October Fellowship and Scholarship Information Event event can be found here. Current scholars and fellowships shared their experiences and advice for interested students. The PowerPoint presentation with detailed requirements and application information can be found here.

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Zane Reynolds (Colorado Law '26) Named 2024 Charles N. Woodruff Fellow

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Nov 2024 00:40:33 +0000

Zane Reynolds (Colorado Law '26) Named 2024 Charles N. Woodruff Fellow Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/07/2024 - 17:40

University of Colorado Law student Zane Reynolds (’26) was awarded the Charles N. Woodruff Fellowship. The Charles N. Woodruff fellowship was established in memory of Charles Woodruff, a highly successful water resources lawyer, to promote excellence in the practice of natural resources law.

Zane was born and raised in Eagle, Colorado. Beginning in his undergraduate studies at the �鶹ӰԺ, he developed an interest in Environmental and Natural Resources issues, which led him to return for law school.

As the Charles N. Woodruff Fellow at the GWC, Zane has been focused on drafting a white paper opposing a lawsuit filed in the Supreme Court by the state of Utah, which claims that the Bureau of Land Management cannot hold on to the 18.5 million acres of public land in the state in perpetuity. Since the lawsuit was filed, 12 other states have signed on. Given the major ramifications this suit might have on public lands, Zane looks forward to continuing his work for the GWC and protecting public lands in the West.

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Wyss Scholars Program Helps Alumni Pursue Careers In Public Lands Law

Anonymous — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 19:01:24 +0000

Wyss Scholars Program Helps Alumni Pursue Careers In Public Lands Law Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 11/07/2024 - 12:01

Emily Battaglia

Originally published by the Colorado Law School Amicus Fall 2024 on Oct. 7, 2024

A legal career in land conservation may often feel unattainable for recent law school graduates. The pressure to pay off student loan debt, coupled with the often-lower paying salaries in public interest jobs, could prompt them to look elsewhere. However, thanks to the Wyss Scholars Program, funded by the Wyss Foundation, one Colorado Law student each year receives generous financial assistance to cover the cost of one-third of law school tuition and expenses, as well as funds for internship opportunities and professional development support.

The program's impact will soon grow; starting in fall 2025, the Wyss Foundation will fund two Wyss Scholars at Colorado Law each year. “The Wyss Scholars Program is a strategic and impactful partnership between Colorado Law and the Wyss Foundation,” said Chris Winter, executive director of the Getches-Wilkinson Center, who oversees the Wyss Scholars Program. “Through the program, scholars get exactly the right kind of support that can make a difference in the trajectory of their careers. We’re very grateful for the support of the Wyss Foundation, and we are thrilled that the students at Colorado Law have this opportunity.”

Wyss Scholarships are awarded to promising leaders in United States land conservation. Scholars learn the latest in conservation law and policy and apply that knowledge in careers at land management agencies and nonprofit conservation groups often with a focus on the protection of public lands. Lawyers in this field provide legal and political counsel on a broad range of land and water use issues—work that is critical to ensuring the protection of public lands now and into the future.

Colorado Law is one of only six public institutions in the U.S to host the Wyss Foundation Wyss Scholars Program. The program has had a profound impact on scholarship recipients' lives since the first Wyss Scholar was selected in 2018. For these students, this funding has been instrumental in the path they have taken both during their final year of law school and in the two years following.[“Being selected as a Wyss Scholar was huge for a number of reasons,” explained Eric Dude ’19. “Public interest and environmental law work is not very lucrative for law students, so the scholarship allowed me to search for more interesting internship opportunities while I was still in law school.”

The summer after being selected as a Wyss Scholar, Dude interned for the Access Fund, a national climbing advocacy organization, where his work centered around protection of national monuments and sustainable recreational access. Dude shared that without the financial support of the Wyss Scholars Program, he would not have been able to take advantage of such an opportunity.

The case was similar for Colorado Law's 2020-21 Wyss Scholar Alex Hamilton ’21, who was able to work an unpaid externship during his 3L year for a Wyoming nonprofit focused on state and federal public lands policy.

“The stipend allowed me to work at Wyoming Outdoor Council and do more coursework instead of taking a paid job,” Hamilton explained. “I was able to do something a little more in my wheelhouse, despite not being paid for it.”

After graduation, Dude and Hamilton accepted jobs in their desired fields. While the funding played a huge role in the direction of their early careers, Dude emphasized the overall value of being affiliated with the Wyss Scholars Program.

“Lots of people have resumes in law school that say they are interested in environmental law,” Dude shared. “But, to say ‘I'm part of the Wyss program’ is to say public lands is my focus, I know and understand public lands law, and I want to do something specifically in that area.”

Dude believes that he was able to get his dream job as an attorney-advisor at the U.S. Department of the Interior Solicitor’s Office because of his Wyss Scholarship.

“As far as setting up your career, the Wyss program is huge in ways I don't think you appreciate when you first get named a Wyss Scholar,” Dude said. “There is a whole network of scholars, and to say that you have dedicated your life to public lands work helps people know you are serious about it and not just seeking a job.”

Dude has remained at the Solicitor's Office since he was first hired after graduation. He currently works for the Solicitor's Office Rocky Mountain Region in Denver, where he counsels the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service on various public lands issues.

Hamilton also experienced the significant positive impact of the scholarship program upon graduation. He worked for the U.S. Forest Service through the Presidential Management Fellowship—the federal government's premier leadership development program for advanced degree holders—as a forest planner for the Cibola National Forest in New Mexico.

“It was nice to have the Wyss Scholarship because I was hired at a much lower salary than if I had taken an attorney position,” Hamilton explained. “It filled that gap for me, which was critical.”

Hamilton eventually transitioned from his role at the U.S. Forest Service to working for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of General Counsel as an attorney-advisor. He shared that the scholarship provided a strong impetus to stay in public lands work, in part because the payment disburses over the first two years of the recipient’s practice.

“The longer you are in this field, the more expertise you get and the easier it is to stay,” Hamilton said. “I can’t really imagine leaving a career in federal lands management at this point. It is so interesting, so rewarding, and having the knowledge that I was going to have that support the first couple of years from the Wyss Scholarship program was great.”

The success of past Wyss Scholars not only demonstrates the prestige and impact of the program itself, but also the depth and breadth of Colorado Law’s natural resources and environmental law program.

For more than half a century, environmental and natural resources law have been a key part of the Colorado Law curriculum. The program has ranked consistently among the very best in the nation, most recently being named a top 10 program in environmental law by U.S. News and World Report.

Both Dude and Hamilton shared that they were drawn to Colorado Law because of the strength of its environmental law program. The world-class faculty, engaging curriculum, and experiential learning opportunities provide students with the support and expertise they need to have successful careers at law firms, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies.

“I was not someone who always thought law school was the path,” Dude shared. “When I made that decision, I specifically wanted to make a career in public lands and researched schools that were strong in that area—and Colorado Law was at the top of the list.”

Last spring, Mariah Bowman ’25 was named Colorado Law’s 2024-25 Wyss Scholar. She is eager to combine her love for the land with her overwhelming certainty that climate action is the best thing we can do for it.

“I was thrilled to be selected for the Wyss Scholars Program this year,” Bowman shared. “The program will help me pursue my interests at the intersection of public lands and climate policy. I am really looking forward to meeting other Wyss Scholars, past and present, and continuing to learn about public lands law and policy."

Last summer, she interned with the U.S. Department of Justice Environment and Natural Resources Division. She hopes to dedicate her career to conservation work and believes the Wyss Scholarship will be instrumental in this pursuit.

The Wyss Scholars Program continues to bolster Colorado Law as a top-ranked institution for environmental law. We are thrilled to see the success of our past Wyss Scholars and look forward to
seeing what future scholarship recipients will accomplish as they embark on their careers.

Meet the Colorado Law Wyss Scholars

Eric Dude '19, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of the Interior

Leah Fugere '20, WilmerHale

Alex Hamilton '21, Office of the General Counsel, U.S. Department of Agriculture

Johnsie Wilkinson '22, Office of the Solicitor, U.S. Department of Interior

Jacob Jose '23, Wildlife and Marine Resources Section, U.S. Department of Justice

Adam Fisher '24, Colorado Supreme Court, Chambers of Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright

Mariah Bowman '25, (current 3L student)

Originally published by the Colorado Law School Amicus Fall 2024 on Oct. 7, 2024

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Application Open: Advanced Natural Resources Field Seminar Spring 2025

Anonymous — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Application Open: Advanced Natural Resources Field Seminar Spring 2025 Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/22/2024 - 00:00

ADVANCED NATURAL RESOURCES SEMINAR: THE COLORADO PLATEAU

Professors Chris Winter & Mark Squillace
Spring Semester, 2025

Applications are now open for this seminar.

Download application instructions here.

Deadline To Apply: Mon, Nov 4th by 5pm

This three-credit seminar is designed as the capstone course of our natural resources curriculum. The class will meet on Tuesdays 2:30-4:10 with a possibility to extend to 4:30pm. We can offer three credits because of the substantial time we will be spending in the field as described below. The course is available for twelve law students, and three graduate students from other disciplines, with strong interests and backgrounds in natural resources issues in the American West. It provides students with the opportunity to tie together materials that they have studied in various courses relating to natural resources law and policy by moving beyond their textbooks and learning how the issues play out in the real world. To accomplish this goal, students who enroll in the seminar must commit to a week-long field trip over spring break on the Colorado Plateau.

The course focuses on a specific geographical area where numerous resource issues converge. This year our focus will be on the Colorado Plateau. We will begin by embarking on an interdisciplinary study of the geography, the history, ecological issues, cultural issues, resource development and use issues, and the economy of the Region. We will then consider current legal and policy issues on the Plateau as they relate to federal public lands, wildlife resources and habitats, Tribal co-stewardship, water quantity and quality, Native American law and Native American rights, land use planning, air pollution, and the balance between state and federal power.

Author Ray Wheeler describes the Colorado Plateau as follows:

The Colorado Plateau is a physiographic "province," a region geologically and topographically distinct from other parts of the West. Originally named the "Colorado Plateaus" by explorer John Wesley Powell, the "Plateau" is in fact a huge basin ringed by highlands and filled with plateaus. Sprawling across southeastern Utah, northern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and western Colorado, the Colorado Plateau province covers a land area of 130,000 square miles. Of America's 50 states, only Alaska, Texas, California, and Montana are larger.

Asked to explain what makes the Colorado Plateau unique, geographers grow cryptic, enigmatic, even mystical. Perhaps that is inevitable, for nothing is more typical of the "Plateau" than enigma itself. Geologically, it is perhaps best defined by what did not happen to it. While the Rocky Mountains to the east and the basin and range country to the west were being thrust, stretched, and fractured into existence, the Colorado Plateau earned a name for itself by the simple device of remaining structurally intact.

"The Colorado Plateau is extremely ancient," says author F.A. Barnes, an expert on the region's geology. "As a distinct mass of continental crust, it is at least 500 million years old -- probably a lot older." Such longevity is especially impressive when one considers the globetrotting adventures of the North American continent from the perspective of continental drift theory. Over a period of 300 to 400 million years, while the land mass that would become the North American continent inched northward from the South Pole, gradually disengaging itself from Africa, Asia, and South America, the Colorado Plateau region drifted along comfortably on its western edge. Now shoreline, now inundated by rising seas, the entire region accumulated huge quantities of sediment, gradually sinking under its own weight until heat and pressure hardened the deposits into a mantle of sedimentary rock several miles thick. Even when the entire western United States began to rise some 10 million years ago, eventually climbing to elevations as much as three miles above sea level, the Colorado Plateau region remained stable – perhaps "floating" on a cushion of molten rock.

Though volcanic eruptions ring its perimeter, few have penetrated the interior of the Colorado Plateau. Blocked by massive layers of sedimentary rock, rising magma could do no more than bulge its thick roof into domes -- the "laccolithic" Henry, La Sal, and Abajo mountain ranges -- before cooling and hardening in place. The tremendous tectonic forces which formed the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains had far less effect on the Colorado Plateau. Shielded or cushioned by something deep in the earth, the Plateau mirrored those forces but dimly -- as broad, dome-shaped uplifts, shallow basins, and long folds or "reefs."

Wilderness at the Edge: A Citizen Proposal to Protect Utah's Canyons and Deserts, Utah Wilderness Coalition, at97-104 (1990).

The Colorado Plateau is an area of extremes. It can be bitterly cold in the winter and unbearably hot in the summer. It is among the most beautiful places on earth but it is also quite fragile. And it is the scene of many significant environmental conflicts and controversies, including, for example, proposals to build two massive dams in the Grand Canyon (which failed), the decision to build a massive coal-fired power plant in Page, Arizona (which operated for decades and recently closed), and the decision to designate several major national monuments in the region, including most notably, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and the Bears Ears National Monument (which are both embroiled in ongoing litigation). Resources issues involve grazing, mining, logging, oil and gas development, renewable energy development, primitive and motorized recreation, water rights (including Indian water rights), wildlife, including endangered species, and important cultural resources and Tribal co-stewardship.

The seminar is divided into three parts. The first part includes the nine weeks of the semester before Spring break. To get us ready and in the mood for the seminar, we will read Charles Wilkinson’s, terrific book, Fire on the Plateau, and Ed Abbey’s, The Monkey Wrench Gang, over the holiday break. The first class will discuss logistics for the course as well as these two books.

During the following eight weeks of the class four groups of students will each prepare and present materials under our supervision that cover various aspects of the Colorado Plateau. Each group will have two classes to share what they have learned, to answer questions, and to facilitate discussion. We will have one introductory class before student presentations begin, but this schedule means that the first group will have to prepare their materials over the holiday break so that they are ready to go on week two of the seminar. (The other groups should also begin to collect the materials that they will use over the break.) We will oversee this effort with meetings and discussions that suggest the most useful materials to share.

Set forth below are the four subject areas that the groups will cover during the first part of the course:

Group 1:The history of the Colorado Plateau, including the cultural and natural history of the region, historic resource development and uses.
Group 2:The legal framework that underlies the management of the Colorado Plateau.This should include a review of the key statutes such as the Federal Land Policy and Management act (FLPMA), the General Mining Law, the National Forest Management Act (NFMA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Antiquities Act, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and perhaps others.This should be a review for most students and should be approached accordingly, but it is important for setting the stage for the last two groups.
Group 3: Contemporary resource and development issues, including conflicts over mineral development, oil and gas development, water development and water resources, logging, agricultural development including grazing, and renewable energy development.
Group 4: Protected lands, endangered species, cultural resources and Tribal co-stewardship, climate change, and ecological issues.This should include the present and expected future impacts of climate change on the region and its implications for law and policy. It should also address issues relating to the fragmentation of the ecosystem from development and recreation activities.

The second part of the course involves a week-long field trip. We will meet with land managers, lawyers, tribal representatives, environmentalists, political leaders, business people, and other informed people in the region, and conduct on-site visits to experience the area’s unique resources. We are particularly interested in understanding conflicts and possible solutions to those conflicts as informed by our interdisciplinary studies.

In 2025, the field trip will take place during our spring break, from Friday, March 21st through Saturday, March 29th. The field trip is a critical part of this course, and students must commit to participate fully in the field trip as a condition for enrolling in the course. We have a modest budget for running this course and we will try to organize the course so that we can stay in comfortable accommodations with minimal additional costs for the participants.

There may be opportunities to hike or engage in other recreational activities during the field trip, and we will ensure that the trip is accessible and welcoming for all students. Please reach out to Professors Winter and Squillace if you have any questions about the trip.

This is a seminar, so each student will be expected to prepare a substantial research paper that relates to some aspect of the issues and resources affecting the Colorado Plateau. During the third part of the course, which includes the four weeks after spring break, students will workshop their draft papers.

We look forward to working with you to make this course informative, inspiring, fun, and a great success!

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