Natural Resources Law Center Water forms a vital link between the living and non-living parts of our world. Its very presence often determines whether life is possible. In arid regions plants and animals cluster around precious water sources. Human communities, too, clustered around water sources until they learned how to transport water over long distances. As supplies are stretched over an expanding population, pressures mount to rethink traditional methods of water allocation and use.
Water is allocated under a highly specialized type of property law.
Allocation of the right to use water has largely been left to each state to develop. Because of this, different doctrines controlling the acquisition, use and transfer of water rights have developed. Waters shared across political boundaries present a special set of legal and administrative challenges. There are many fascinating issues that arise in the area of water law and management. This course will explore these issues in the context of the legal rules and policies governing water resources today.