Student Opportunities

Now Hiring! Rocky Mountain Conservancy Fellowship

Annie Carlozzi — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 16:30:17 +0000

Now Hiring! Rocky Mountain Conservancy Fellowship Annie Carlozzi Tue, 09/08/2026 - 10:30

Rocky Mountain Conservancy Fellowship

Program Overview

The Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment (GWC) at the University of Colorado Law School is pleased to announce the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Public Lands Fellowship for the 2026–2027 academic year. This fellowship provides a Colorado Law 3L with an opportunity to conduct legal and policy research under the supervision of GWC in support of the work of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy (RMC), a nonprofit partner supporting Rocky Mountain National Park. The fellowship is designed to accelerate the career aspirations of a student with a demonstrated commitment to land conservation and outstanding legal skills.

The fellowship offers a unique opportunity to gain practical experience addressing legal and policy issues affecting national parks, public lands, water resources, and conservation. The Fellow will work on research projects identified in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and GWC, developing a deeper understanding of the legal and institutional challenges involved in protecting and managing public lands while sharpening research, writing, and analytical skills.

Key benefits include:

Practical exposure to national park management and nonprofit conservation organizations, including an opportunity to learn more about the management and operations of Rocky Mountain National Park and the role of nonprofit partners in supporting national parks.
Development of specialized expertise in public lands and natural resources law through sustained research on issues affecting federal lands, national parks, water resources, conservation, and related areas.
Legal research and writing supported by GWC, addressing real-world issues relating to public lands management, water resources, conservation of private lands, and other issues affecting the stewardship of natural and cultural resources.
Mentorship and professional development through close supervision by the GWC Executive Director and opportunities to engage with RMC staff and board and GWC faculty, staff, practitioners, and other leaders in the fields of natural resources and environmental law.
Opportunities to apply legal skills to real-world conservation challenges, including researching legal authorities, analyzing statutes and regulations, evaluating policy questions, and preparing written research for use by the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and its partners.

Eligibility

Open to currently enrolled 3L students at Colorado Law who can demonstrate strong legal research and writing skills and academic achievement along with an interest in natural resources, environmental law, public lands, water law, conservation, or related fields.

Fellowship Payment and Schedule

The Fellow will work approximately 10 hours per week from fall 2026 through the spring 2027 semester at $25/hour. Scheduling is flexible to accommodate coursework and other commitments.

The Fellow will be supervised by the Executive Director of the Getches-Wilkinson Center and will work closely with GWC in developing and completing research projects in support of RMC and collaborating with its staff.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit the following as a single PDF:

Cover letter explaining your interest in the fellowship and in public lands, conservation, natural resources, or related issues.
Resume.
Law school transcript (unofficial accepted).
Writing sample.

Applications will be reviewed by GWC and RMC staff, and selected applicants may be invited to interview. Application deadline: Sunday, September 20 11:59pm.

Contact Information

For further information, please contact GWC Assistant Director Annie Carlozzi at annie.carlozzi@colorado.edu.

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Colorado Law Wyss Scholar Piper Lacy Attends Annual Summer Retreat

Annie Carlozzi — Sun, 23 Aug 2026 19:38:34 +0000

Colorado Law Wyss Scholar Piper Lacy Attends Annual Summer Retreat Annie Carlozzi Sun, 08/23/2026 - 13:38

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in the woods outside of Missoula, Montana with an incredible group of law and graduate students for the 2026 Wyss Scholars retreat. The group consisted of fifteen students from all over the country who share a common passion for land conservation. We were hosted by the amazing University of Montana cohort at the Lubrecht Experimental Forest, located about a half-hour drive east of Missoula.

I arrived in Missoula Thursday morning and was met by smoky skies from the devastating fires in Washington and Oregon. Lila, a recent graduate of the University of Montana and a 2025–26 Wyss Scholar picked me up at the airport along with Josh, a law student at the University of Michigan. From there, we met up with the rest of the group at the University of Montana campus, where we heard from three speakers from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT). Rich Janssen has been the director of the CSKT Department of Natural Resources for sixteen years, Dana Hewankorn is the CSKT Food Sovereignty Pilot Project Program manager, and Kathryn McDonald is a CSKT Tribal Relations Specialist who works between the tribal government and federal agencies on preservation and restoration projects.

Listening to these speakers share their experience and knowledge about conservation and community-building was truly a privilege. I especially connected with Dana Hewankorn’s food sovereignty work because of my interest in sustainable agriculture and food justice. I was struck by her response to the first question that was posed to the speakers: “What is your role in land conservation?” Initially, Hewankorn laughed and said, “I’m not sure. I just have a really big garden.” The other two speakers looked at her with conviction and agreed: “Of course you play a role in land conservation.” From there the conversation moved to a discussion of how preserving traditional food sources of the CSKT, like camas root, has furthered conservation initiatives in western Montana. The speakers discussed the importance of tribal members maintaining a relationship with the land, and that foraging, hunting, and cultivating food has been central to this relationship throughout CSKT history. Further, reservations across the United States are often located in “food deserts,” with limited access to fresh, healthy food. By cultivating food within the reservation and holding classes on gardening, canning, hunting, and foraging, the Food Sovereignty Pilot Project Program is supporting the nutritional needs of the community and ensuring that CSKT traditions continue on to the next generation.

After the speaker session, we departed Missoula for Lubrecht. We were the only group staying in the lodge, which was nestled among towering ponderosa pines. I spent a year living in Montana before starting law school, so it felt good to be back. For dinner, we made burritos in the lodge kitchen and sat outside on the deck talking, laughing, and getting to know each other. Much to my surprise (and delight), Jackson, a grad student at the Yale School of Forestry, brought a couple lariats and a steer roping dummy (see photos). Against all odds, four of us (Jackson, Lila, Caitlyn, and me) knew how to rope! So we spent the evening roping the “steer” and teaching the other scholars the proper technique. This experience was a testament to the fact that people are complex and often don’t fit into easily defined boxes, and that you never know what you might have in common with a relative stranger.

On Friday, after eating a delicious homemade pancake breakfast, we drove to Primm Meadow, one of the largest old growth ponderosa forests in Montana, to meet with Chris Bryant, the Montana Conservation Director at the Nature Conservancy (TNC). Bryant spoke with us about the history of Primm Meadow and the work TNC has done to conserve it. Unlike many forests that are dense with smaller trees, Primm Meadow is an example of what a forest that has been properly managed looks like. Through controlled burning and intentional thinning, Primm Meadow is a true ponderosa savannah. Bryant explained that TNC opens the area to local indigenous people to continue their traditional uses of the land. He also discussed the relationship between TNC and the BLM, and how they have collaborated over the years to further conservation efforts across Montana. We had the opportunity to explore the forest and observed “windows” carved into ponderosas by tribal members long before TNC purchased the land.

Saturday morning we ate another delicious home-cooked breakfast before heading to the Garnet Ghost Town, a preserved mining town erected in 1897. Walking around the abandoned buildings felt like stepping back in time. It was cool to imagine what life must have been like for the people who lived in this community. It was also a reminder of how mining played such an enormous role in shaping the history of the west.

After leaving Garnet, we drove back to Missoula to pick up tubes for our float down the Clark Fork River. We floated for about three hours on a gentle current, with a few small rapids sprinkled in to keep things interesting. A few members of the group, especially Taylor and Franny, were avid birders and called out whenever they saw a new species. After our float, we ate a delicious dinner in Missoula before heading back to Lubrecht for our last night.

Heading to the airport on Sunday, I felt a bit sad to be leaving Montana and my new friends. We had clicked so well as a group and it felt like I had known them for longer than just a few days. A few weeks later, I am still so grateful for the laughs, deep conversations, and connections I made on this retreat. I send so much gratitude to the incredible University of Missoula cohort who worked hard to make this weekend so fun and meaningful. I am also deeply appreciative of The Wyss Foundation for creating the opportunity for us to come together. Being around a group of my peers who are smart, motivated, and passionate about land conservation was like taking a breath of fresh air (despite the fact that the air was in fact quite smoky). This retreat filled me with inspiration and hope for the future and a new network of friends and professional connections.

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Highlights from FNREL's 72d Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:24:00 +0000

Highlights from FNREL's 72d Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute Annie Carlozzi Thu, 08/13/2026 - 07:24

Anneka Lambert

On July 23-25, 2026, the Foundation for Natural Resources and Energy Law (FNREL) hosted the 72nd Annual Natural Resources and Energy Law Institute in Seattle, Washington. Several members of the GWC team attended the event along with eight Colorado Law students.

Highlights from Section Sessions

Over the course of three days, students and staff attended lectures from different sections in the morning. These included the Environmental Law, Renewable Energy, Oil and Gas, Mining, Public Lands and Indian Law, and Water Law sections. Topics ranged from judicial, legislative, and regulatory updates to evolving environmental litigation strategies. The lectures presented on papers published by the speakers and offered different perspectives on major developments in environmental law today.

Some standout sessions included a discussion of the EPA’s Deregulatory Initiative following the March 12, 2025 Deregulation Announcement. Presenter Clarissa Howley Mills discussed the key initiatives to watch that stand to pose significant litigation risk. This includes power generation and greenhouse-gas emission standards for power plants, climate change and the final rule repealing the “endangerment” finding under the Clean Air Act, and a discussion of the competing values the EPA must navigate to regulate PFAS. Mills also highlighted the competing narratives surrounding the pivot in enforcement prioritizing compliance. The primary tension is drawn between the most efficient use of resources and effective deterrence strategies.

The session, Beyond the Citizen Suit -- Evolving Environmental NGO Strategies Amid Federal Deregulation, given by Alex Schluntz and Courtney Shepherd, looked at the role of NGOs and citizen suits amidst the changes in the federal approach to enforcement, the widening gap between violations and federal enforcement, and the potential shrinking of the enforcement landscape should these regulatory frameworks survive judicial review. Considering the changing regulatory landscape, the speakers discussed key areas for NGOs to consider for strategy development. These include using resources wisely, monitoring which cases are filed, emphasizing place-based advocacy, being selective about targets, and setting manageable goals. To secure lasting outcomes, they talked about increased state-level engagement to be more insulated and provide more procedural access points. While uncertainties have arisen out of Loper Bright, this decision does not apply to state court review of state regulations. They predicted that rulemaking will be an increasingly important tool at the state level that could help shape nationwide action. They advised regulated entities to expect multi-layered scrutiny, engage early, watch related proceedings, and to consider their reputation when decision-making.

General Sessions Key Takeaways

The general sessions addressed broader, widely applicable topics and relevant changes in the field. The Annual Environmental Law Update given by Hannah Roskey covered changes in environmental law in the past year.

On February 18, 2026, the EPA finalized the rescission of the endangerment finding. Since 2009, the EPA has promulgated and enforced Clean Air Act regulations based on the finding in Massachusetts v. EPA that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare. So far, this only applies to regulations pertaining to mobile sources. As for stationary sources, following the Big Beautiful Bill Act, the EPA has proposed to remove all greenhouse gas reporting requirements for all source categories except those subject to the Waste Emissions Charge (WEC). However, this has not necessarily been received as positive for industry, as reporting requirements are required to participate in international markets.

In November 2025, the EPA published a rule that revised the definition of Waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act, which largely adopted the court’s view in Sackett decided in 2023. The court defined the “waters” subject to the Clean Water Act as only those which are “relatively permanent, standing, or continuously flowing bodies of water.” Significantly, the court invalidated the "significant nexus” standard for wetlands and streams that had previously allowed USACE to regulate such waterbodies under the Clean Water Act based on their ecological connectivity. Instead, wetlands must have a continuous surface connection to one of the Waters of the United States to be subject to the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act.

There have been both administrative and judicial developments to NEPA. The Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) was created by NEPA to provide the President with guidance on taking action and developing environmental policy in accordance with the Act. However, for decades, CEQ has issued rules and regulations regarding NEPA compliance for agencies to follow that have been largely accepted and treated as persuasive rulemaking authority. In a recent executive order, CEQ was directed to remove NEPA regulations and limited the window for public comment.

The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Seven County Infrastructure Coalition v. Eagle County called for a NEPA “course-correction.” This narrowed the scope of federal environmental review when implementing NEPA procedures. The Court clarified that the requisite “hard look” called for broad agency deference so long as an agency has taken “reasonable” steps to evaluate environmental impacts.

The broad range of topics covered in the three days was an excellent opportunity to expand on existing areas of knowledge and to gain exposure to novel aspects of environmental law. A more detailed breakdown of the sessions offered and speaker bios can be found here: https://www.fnrel.org/-/media/files/ai-files/ai72/ai72-handbook-2026-online.pdf?la=en.

Reflections on Student Opportunities

FNREL has been a great resource for law students looking to pursue environmental law. The Foundation provides free student memberships and sponsors students to attend the annual institute. FNREL also awards scholarships, which four Colorado Law students received. These recipients include: Alexis Padilla (2027), Celeste Baro (2027), Corrine Griffith (2027), and Mallory Tope-Lewis (2028).

Sessions tailored to students and young professionals allowed for exposure to a wide variety of practice areas and networking opportunities. The student panel was an opportunity to start a conversation with J.D. recipients who had taken different paths within the field of environmental law. In general, the panel advised students to develop and maintain their network, emphasized that a healthy, sustainable work-life balance is highly individual, spoke about how to advocate for yourself and set boundaries in the workplace, and that there are many ways to have a career in environmental law.

Portia’s Lunch for Women offered a unique, sit-down networking opportunity for women in environmental law to connect with the female-identifying students in attendance. Over lunch, our students talked with practicing attorneys about their careers, how their identity as a woman has impacted their career trajectory, and the importance of mentorship. It was particularly impactful when an attorney shared that she had gotten her current job through a woman she met at this lunch several years ago. She then revealed that same woman was sitting next to her while she told this story. Overall, this lunch was a great chance to see the existing network for women in environmental law and demonstrated the importance of developing and maintaining relationships.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we would like to give a special thank you to FNREL for hosting this event and facilitating this opportunity for our students. We appreciated the opportunity to gain exposure to different areas of environmental law, attend in-depth lectures on particular areas of interest, connect with other students pursuing environmental law, and to expand our legal network.

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Now Hiring! Fall Student Research Assistants

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:54:38 +0000

Now Hiring! Fall Student Research Assistants Annie Carlozzi Wed, 08/05/2026 - 11:54

GWC Research Assistant

Position Overview

The Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy and the Environment (GWC) is seeking Colorado Law students interested in natural resources, energy, and environmental law to serve as the GWC Research Assistant.

Key benefits include:

Legal research and writing, supported by GWC staff, focused on real-world challenges in water law, public lands, climate change and natural resources as applied to the American West.
Mentorship from faculty and GWC staff and access to GWC’s network of leaders on the Advisory Council.
Opportunities for original scholarship and publication.

Eligibility
Open to currently enrolled 2L, 3L or LLM students at Colorado Law.

Payment Details

This is a part-time position at $21/hr for fall and may continue into the spring semester pending funding availability. Scheduling is flexible to accommodate other commitments.
Work-study is preferred. Interested students should apply for work-study funding. Work-study information is available here: /studentemployment/work-study

Application Instructions
Submit the following as a single PDF to Annie Carlozzi (annie.carlozzi@colorado.edu) by Sunday, August 16, 2026, at 11:59pm.

Cover letter explaining your interest in the position and your optimum hours
Resume.
Law school transcript (unofficial accepted).
Writing sample.

Applications will be received by GWC staff and an interview may be scheduled. The selected Research Assistant will be notified by early September 2026.

Contact Information
For further information, please contact GWC Assistant Director Annie Carlozzi at annie@colorado.edu.

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Sept 10: GWC and AILP Community Social

Annie Carlozzi — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:13:59 +0000

Sept 10: GWC and AILP Community Social Annie Carlozzi Wed, 07/08/2026 - 12:13

Community Social for Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni

Thursday, September 10th, 2026 5-7pm in Schaden Commons.

Please join the Getches-Wilkinson Center and the American Indian Law Program for an informal happy hour and community-building event. Learn more about Colorado Law School’s nationally ranked environmental and American Indian law programs and meet fellow students, experienced faculty and alumni. Everyone is welcome! 1L students are encouraged to attend.

And you’ll enjoy free food and drink!

Co-hosted by ELS, NALSA, and ELJ.

The event is free to attend. Registration is required - Register here

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Reflections on Steve Bloch's Visit to Colorado Law

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 17:18:50 +0000

Reflections on Steve Bloch's Visit to Colorado Law Annie Carlozzi Thu, 04/23/2026 - 11:18

Andrea Shipton and Obie Johnson

On April 1st, thanks to the generous support of the Wyss Foundation, we had the opportunity to host Steve Bloch, legal director of the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (“SUWA”). SUWA is a non-profit organization that fights to defend Utah’s stunning redrock wilderness for the benefit of all Americans. Steve has worked at SUWA since 1999.

The inspiration to ask Steve to speak at Colorado Law came from the Advanced Natural Resources Seminar on the Colorado Plateau, which we both enrolled in during the spring of our 2L year. During that spring break, we spent ten days exploring the unique landscapes of Utah, New Mexico, and Arizona, under the guidance of Professors Chris Winter and Mark Squillace. We met with numerous stakeholders, including tribal representatives, employees of federal land management agencies, and Neal Clark—Wildlands Director for SUWA, based in the Moab office. That trip really opened our eyes to all of the incredible work being done by public lands advocates in some of the most unique landscapes in our country. It certainly solidified our desire to use our legal degrees to fight for the lands, wildlife, and people of not only the Colorado Plateau, but the rest of the nation and even world as well.

During his visit, Steve spoke to us about the substance of his work at SUWA and his advice for students interested in non-profit environmental litigation. He spoke candidly yet optimistically about some of the most severe threats facing the Colorado Plateau right now—from proposals to sell off Utah’s public lands, to attacks on national monuments via the obscure Congressional Review Act, to stagnant grazing and other resource extraction fees set by the federal government. He also gave us a peek into his day-to-day life at SUWA and shared helpful advice for the many students in the room aspiring to work for an organization like SUWA after graduation. Having read the Supreme Court decision Norton v. SUWA at least three or four times during our law school careers, it was great to hear his perspective on a lawsuit he worked so closely on and a decision that has been so key in guiding administrative law jurisprudence ever since.

We are so pleased with how Steve Bloch’s visit went and would like to thank the Wyss Foundation, the Getches Wilkison Center, and Steve himself for making it all possible. With so much uncertainty right now surrounding federal public lands law, it was so reassuring to hear inspiring words from one of our public land’s greatest advocates.

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Wind River Water Forum

Annie Carlozzi — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:35:22 +0000

Wind River Water Forum Annie Carlozzi Thu, 04/23/2026 - 09:35

Wind River Water Forum

May 1, 2026

Time: 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Community breakfast: 8:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Community lunch: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
Location: Frank B. Wise Building, Fort Washakie, WY

Join us for an in-depth discussion of water management issues facing Tribal Nations on the Wind River Reservation and elsewhere across the United States. More information coming soon!

For more information and to register: https://www.uwyo.edu/law/centers/center-for-land-and-water-law/events/wind-river-water-forum.html

Wind River Water Forum 2026 Agenda

Please join us, in person or over Zoom (registration link), for a Water Forum addressing the historical, current, and future water-management challenges facing the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes on the Wind River Indian Reservation. Panel discussions among members of the Wind River Water Resources Control Board, as well as community-based organizations doing water-related projects on the reservation, will be featured alongside research presentations on water-management issues confronting Tribal Nations across the United States. An optional tour will also be offered to visit water infrastructure across the reservation.

Friday, May 1

The main portion of the Water Forum will be held on Friday, May 1, from 8:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at the Frank B. Wise Building in Fort Washakie (3 Ethete Road, Fort Washakie, WY 82514). In addition to our panels and keynote address, a community breakfast will be held from 8:00-9:00 a.m., followed by a community lunch from 12:30-1:30 p.m. In-person attendance is encouraged, and online attendance over Zoom is also welcomed (registration link).

8:00-9:00 a.m. MDT: Community Breakfast

9:00-9:30 a.m. MDT: Prayer & Introduction

James Trosper, Tribal Elder
Travis Shakespeare, Co-Chair, Wind River Water Resources Control Board (invited)
Orville St. Clair, Co-Chair, Wind River Water Resources Control Board (invited)

9:30-11:00 a.m. MDT: Wind River Water Resources Control Board (WRWRCB) Panel

This first panel, composed of Tribal Water Engineer Lokilo St. Clair and WRWRCB members, this first panel will discuss foundational aspects of water management on the Wind River Reservation, as well as cutting-edge issues the Board is now facing.
Moderator: John Washakie, Former Deputy Tribal Water Engineer (invited)
Panelists: Lokilo St. Clair, Tribal Water Engineer, and WRWRCB Members

11:00-11:15 a.m. MDT: Break

11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. MDT: Community Organizations Panel.

A host of community-based organizations are doing water-related work on the Wind River Reservation, and this second panel will shed light on several of these organizations and their respective projects.
Moderator: Dr. Tarissa Spoonhunter, Asst. Professor at Haub School of Env’t. and Natural Resources & Director of High Plains American Indian Research Institute, Univ. of Wyoming
Panelists:
- Jason Baldes, Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative
- Big Wind Carpenter, Wyoming Outdoor Council
- Colleen Friday, Greater Yellowstone Coalition
- Shila Aragon, Wind River Development Fund

12:30-1:30 p.m. MDT: Community Lunch

1:30-2:45 p.m. MDT: Beyond Wind River Panel

Tribal Nations across the United States are navigating challenges similar to, and different from, those facing the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes, and this third panel will present research on some of these challenges, including their potential connections to future water management on the Wind River Reservation.
Moderator, Daniel Anderson, Water Law Fellow, Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources, Energy, and the Environment, University of Colorado Law School
Panelists:
- Bethany Aragon, Research Fellow, Gina Guy Center for Land & Water Law, University of Wyoming College of Law
- Jason Robison, Professor, University of Wyoming College of Law
- Alyson White Eagle, Tribal Water Institute Fellow, Native American Rights Fund

2:45-3:00 p.m. MDT: Break

3:00-3:30 p.m. MDT: Closing Keynote

Ivan Posey, Wyoming House District 33 Representative

Saturday, May 2

Led by past and present members of the Wind River Water Resources Control Board, including Richard Baldes, Gary Collins, and Howard Brown, an optional tour will be offered on Saturday, May 2, from 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., involving site visits to water infrastructure across the reservation. The tour will depart from the Frank B. Wise Building in Fort Washakie (3 Ethete Road, Fort Washakie, WY 82514). Simple grab-and-go breakfast and lunch will be provided, and the tour will be followed by a debrief at the Wise Building from 12:00-2:00 p.m. Please fill out this form if you are interested in joining the tour.

8:00-8:15 a.m. MDT: Meet at Frank B. Wise Building + Load Vehicles

8:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. MDT: Tour

Itinerary: Bull Lake, proposed Steamboat Reservoir project location, Diversion Dam/Wyoming Canal, Ray Lake, and Washakie Reservoir.

12:00-2:00 p.m. MDT: Debrief + Sack Lunch at Frank B. Wise Building

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Andrea Shipton Receives Natural Resources Law Outstanding Student Award

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:22:06 +0000

Andrea Shipton Receives Natural Resources Law Outstanding Student Award Annie Carlozzi Mon, 04/20/2026 - 13:22

The GWC is thrilled to recognize Andrea Shipton as the winner of the 2026 Natural Resources Law Outstanding Student Award. Andrea won the prestigious Wyss Scholarship, which is awarded to an outstanding student who is dedicated to career in public interest land conservation. She served as the Managing Editor of the Colorado Environmental Law Journal, and she also led the adventure club.

GWC Chris Winter shared, "Andrea was in the field seminar last year, and I think I’ll always remember the Spotify listening parties in the long car rides. I won’t go into more details, but it was eye opening. But I’ll also remember her love for being outside, exploring, and connecting those experiences to the study of law and policy." Andrea, congratulations and thank you.

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Patricia Alquiza Receives Gary Bryner Distinguished Service Award

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 19:05:56 +0000

Patricia Alquiza Receives Gary Bryner Distinguished Service Award Annie Carlozzi Mon, 04/20/2026 - 13:05

The GWC is thrilled to recognize Patricia Alquiza for this year’s Gary C. Bryner Distinguished Service award. Gary C. Bryner served as Director of what was then called the Natural Resources Law Center. He came to Colorado after a successful career as a Professor of Political Science at BYU, and while he left the Center’s Director position in 2001 he remained a regular presence at Center events, even serving a sabbatical year at the Center. Gary possessed two attributes that became the inspiration for the Bryner Award. First, he had a deep love and passion for the study of natural resources and he knowledgeably engaged people on a wide range of resource topics. What set Gary apart, however, was his deep sense of humanity, and his kindness and generosity toward others.

The Bryner Award honors a graduating student who shares Gary’s passion for natural resources law and especially his kindness and generosity to others and the deep sense of humanity that he practiced in his daily life.

We’re so pleased to recognize Patricia because she has brought a quiet strength, compassion, and grace to her work here at Colorado Law School. Chris Winter, GWC executive director shared, "I had the pleasure of spending 9 days with her during last year’s Advanced Natural Resources Field Seminar as we traveled across the Colorado Plateau. And I got to see how Patricia not only supported her friends on that trip, but also how she brought that same sense of caring and compassion to the natural world and especially the friendly dogs on the Hopi Reservation. For a second, I was afraid she was going to bring a couple of them with us on the rest of the trip." Patricia, thank you for everything you do.

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Advanced Natural Resources Seminar Explores the Colorado Plateau

Annie Carlozzi — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 20:03:58 +0000

Advanced Natural Resources Seminar Explores the Colorado Plateau Annie Carlozzi Mon, 03/30/2026 - 14:03

Celeste Baro , Sydney Stellato

After an approximately seven-hour drive from �Ǹ�Թ�, we arrived at Dugout Ranch and the Canyonlands Research Center, tucked deep within canyon country near Bears Ears National Monument and Canyonlands National Park. We spent our first night under a sky full of stars, and in the morning, we woke from our tents surrounded by towering orange and red rock formations.

That morning, we met with Matt and Kristen Redd, managers of the Dugout Ranch and Canyonlands Research Center. In 1997, The Nature Conservancy worked with the Redd family to purchase the Dugout Ranch, securing a major conservation win and protecting important lands and waters from development. Later, in 2009, The Nature Conservancy purchased the Dugout’s cattle herd for use as a research tool, and in 2010, a suite of partners formally launched the Canyonlands Research Center. Hearing about the ranch’s transformation into a living research laboratory showed us what collaborative conservation can look like in practice where ranching, science, and conservation all intersect.

While at the ranch, we also heard from Shaun Ketchum, a young Diné and Ute Mountain Ute leader and Director of the 100 Years of Silence Project. He shared the history behind the project, which seeks to illuminate a painful and little-known event in Ute history, when 80 Ute tribal members were rounded up and imprisoned in a barbed-wire camp near Blanding, Utah, based on false accusations. The project works to bring this history to light in order to promote public understanding and healing for Ute people.

We also hiked into Shay Canyon to view petroglyphs etched into the canyon walls. After our hike, we drove to Bluff, Utah, where we stayed for the night.

The following morning, we met Amanda Podmore, Conservation Director at the Grand Canyon Trust, for breakfast before heading out for a hike along Comb Ridge. There, we talked about the Trust’s work on Bears Ears National Monument, Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, and their broader public lands and tribal outreach efforts across the Colorado Plateau.

From there, we made our way to the Grand Canyon’s North Rim, where we stayed at the Grand Canyon Trust’s Kane Ranch. In September 2005, the Trust completed a historic transaction to purchase the grazing rights and base property of the Kane and Two-Mile Ranches in the heart of the Arizona Strip. Together, the ranches encompass 850,000 acres. Because current law requires that some cattle be grazed on the ranches, the Trust maintains a cattle operation while also carrying out an ambitious conservation program to assess and improve land health. They collect baseline data across different ecosystems—ponderosa pine forest, pinyon-juniper woodland, and wetlands—and track changes over time to guide restoration and management.

We spent the next two nights at Kane Ranch cooking meals together, wandering the fields, and watching the stars at night. During the day, we visited the proposed dam site in Marble Canyon and discussed ongoing Colorado River issues—water scarcity, drought, and the immense pressure placed on the river by the many communities and states that rely on it. We also drove to a condor viewing area, where we learned about the reintroduction of the California condor, an endangered species that once had a population of only about 20 individuals. Seeing condors soaring again over the canyon felt like a rare conservation success story. We also visited the White Sage Burn area and discussed pinyon-juniper management and changing fire regimes on the landscape.

The next morning, we drove to Page, Arizona, for a tour of Glen Canyon Dam with Bob Martin, Deputy Power Manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. Authorized by the Colorado River Storage Project Act of 1956 and completed in 1963, Glen Canyon Dam was built to store water for Colorado River Compact requirements and generate hydroelectric power. Standing inside the dam, we talked about the future of Lake Powell and the very real possibility of the reservoir reaching “dead pool,” the level at which water can no longer flow through the dam, and even “power pool,” where hydropower generation would no longer be possible. These questions—about water storage, electricity, drought, and the ability of Upper Basin states to meet compact obligations—made clear just how much the modern West depends on this single river system.

After the tour, we continued to Tuba City, located on the border of the Navajo and Hopi reservations, reflecting on everything we had seen and learned over the past several days—about conservation, history, water, energy, and the many different people and communities connected to these landscapes.

Tuba City happened to be the city that Professor Krakoff began her career in American Indian Law, working for DNA People’s Legal Services for three years. We visited her home when she lived in Tuba City – an old Mormon settlement with tall poplar trees. We got to see Newspaper Rock – a popular site for petroglyphs from various historical tribes that used the rock to communicate with each other. We spoke with women from Change Labs – a non-profit working on giving resources to Native run businesses through providing business coaching, microloans, and a workspace for people to work out of. They work with all different types of businesses to help make sure that businesses on the reservation can thrive. This was complimented by a talk with Amber Benally and Ethan Aumack who highlighted the Grand Canyon Trust’s Just Transition Program focused on helping tribes that benefitted from coal mining to transition to non-extractive industries.

At Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation, we spoke to Bidtah Becker, the Chief Legal Counsel for the President and Vice President, about current water rights settlements happening on the Colorado River, the Navajo Nation’s water settlement, and how the two are intertwined. We also got to speak with one of the Navajo Nation’s hydrologists who explained the science of the water settlement to us. Finally, we had lunch in town with Navajo tacos, a specialty on the Nation. We stopped by the home of Deon Ben, the Native America Director, who talked about his work with the Grand Canyon Trust and working on coalition building for Southwest Tribes, including the tribes work with establishing and managing nearby National Monuments. He also allowed us to see into his home, a modern day hogan. Hogans are traditional dwellings of the Navajo people. Being able to see him living and working on his families homestead was a privilege.

On Thursday, we left the Navajo Nation and went back into Colorado. We stayed in Ignasio, Colorado where we met with Lisa Yellow Eagle, and got to visit the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. We talked about the Southern Ute’s federally reserved water rights and the water projects that they and the BIA have on tribal property. Then we got to tour the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project (“PRITT”) and see the miles and miles of irrigation and canals that the tribe uses to get water. We discussed water settlements and how the water of Colorado has been used to support the tribe, and various economic avenues that the tribe has used to support itself. As an added benefit we got to see a bald eagle flying away!

Finally, we met with a former student of the seminar, who went on his own field seminar down by the Rio Grande when he attended Colorado Law. We had dinner with Dan McCarl who currently works for Maynes, Bradford, Shipps & Sheftel. He has worked with the DOJ in the Environment & Natural Resource Division and Western Energy Project and had a very nuanced view into how various aspects of American Indian Law, energy law, and water law coincide. He offered insight into how to be an attorney working from different avenues to help achieve our goals.

We spent the night in Pagosa Springs before driving back up to �Ǹ�Թ� on Friday. After eight days of learning and being on the road we were very excited to be back at Colorado Law to be able to put everything we learned about into action!

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