Refections on Cu’s “law of the River” Class
| Publication year | 2017 |
| Pages | 60 |
BAR NEWS HIGHLIGHT
By GUNNAR PAULSEN.
From the depths of the Grand Canyon in 1869, John Wesley Powell, a one-armed Army veteran who led the first successful expedition of the Colorado River, wrote, “[W]e have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river to explore.” Powell was in dire straits; he had lost his scientific instruments and most of his food, and unknown perils lay downstream. Nonetheless, Powell’s crew completed the journey and returned with invaluable observations.
Today, the river’s geography is mapped to the minutest detail. Yet Powell’s words apply as much in 2017 as they did the day they were penned.
From its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park to its now-sandy delta in Mexico, the Colorado River is dotted with dams and diversions, supplying water to upwards of 40 million people across two countries, seven states, and 28 tribal nations. The Colorado River is also the cultural heart of the Southwest, serving as a jaw-dropping recreational paradise and home to many tribes’ sacred sites. Tat complex background convinced University of Colorado Law School Professor Sarah Krakof that the only way her students could truly understand the legal framework governing the Colorado River is by getting their feet wet. Two years ago, she started planning a class that would culminate in a two-week rafting journey through the heart of the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon.
Last spring, that class became a reality. Seventeen students, including myself, studied the legal and policy issues of the Colorado River region with Professor Krakof. As we read about the interstate compacts, international agreements, tribal water rights, endangered species issues, and mineral development controversies, we understood that there is an “unknown distance yet to run” to achieve sustainability in the region. Powell’s prophetic words became our unofficial motto.
In addition to studying the river in depth, we fundraised for months. CU Law Dean S. James Anaya made a generous matching grant, and we spearheaded an online crowdfunding campaign. We hosted events, wrote letters, and shared our passion for the Colorado River with everyone who would listen. Alice Madden ( ’89), Zach Miller (’80), and Peter Nichols (’01) joined the trip as alumni sponsors.
On May 15, after a semester of study, we launched at Lee’s Ferry, leaving...
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