June 5 and 6: 2025 Conference on the Colorado River
The Getches-Wilkinson Center and Water & Tribes Initiative will be co-convening the 2025 Conference on the Colorado River on Thurs, June 5th and Fri, June 6th at the Wolf Law Building in 91福利社, CO.
Turning Hindsight into Foresight: The Colorado River at a Crossroads
Once again, the Colorado River is at a crossroads, as the efforts to finalize the post-2026 rules push up squarely against longstanding conflicts, legal interpretations, and notions of equity and inclusivity.听 Complicating progress is the narrow focus on reservoir operating rules, and the tradition of pushing the thorniest issues to future discussions in largely undetermined forums and unknown schedules. 听In this event, we assess the current state of progress, focusing specifically on the degree to which emerging steps forward incorporate the lessons learned through past experiences.
We hope you join us for what will be sure to be an engaging 2-day conference bringing together thought leaders from across the Colorado Basin.
Thursday, June 5th and Friday, June 6th
8:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. (Mountain Time)听
Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom
Breakfast, Snack and Lunch provided daily
Attendee reception provided on Thurs, June 5th
15 Colorado CLE general credits have been approved for the conference.听
THURSDAY, JUNE 5
Session 1:听Modern Challenges Through a Historical Lens. The Colorado River community is now laser focused on the need to adopt new operating rules by the summer of 2026.听 At this important inflection point in the basin, it is useful to look back, reflect on lessons learned, and turn hindsight into foresight to ensure that the actions we take now are appropriate for the ever-evolving challenges we face in the basin.听 The session will start by focusing on lessons learned by some of the basin鈥檚 first inhabitants: the Ancient Puebloans.听 It will then review the history of subsequent human settlement in the basin, exploring the legal and institutional principles that shape current opportunities and constraints to achieving a more sustainable future relationship between the people and the river. The discussion concludes with a review of the agreements expiring at the end of 2026: the Interim Guidelines, Minute 319