Editors: A complete schedule of events is posted on the NRLC home page at .
The Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder School of Law will host a four-day conference devoted to examining issues related to water management programs across the globe, with an eye toward applications in the American West.
Slated for June 11-14, the 20th annual summer conference titled "Allocating and Managing Water for a Sustainable Future: Lessons From Around the World," will bring together professionals from North America, Central and South America, the Middle East, Europe, China, Nepal, Cuba, Africa and Australia.
Experts will discuss issues as diverse as water marketing, balancing urban and environmental water needs, rivers at risk for international conflicts and alternative policies for management of the Colorado River.
"NRLC has hosted conferences for over 20 years," notes center Director Jim Martin. "This is probably the most diverse and complex one we've ever done. Given drought conditions in the West and political tension in the world arena, issues of water allocation and use are particularly serious."
More than 50 practitioners from federal and state agencies, international citizen and government groups and academia will present findings and offer recommendations based on "real world" experience and research.
"We are very excited about the caliber of professionals who will convene here to deal with tough issues and challenges," added Martin.
Keynote speakers for this year's conference are Patricia Wouters, director of the International Water Law Research Institute at the University of Dundee in Scotland; Peter Gleick, director of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security in Oakland, Calif.; Deborah Moore, an independent consultant working to protect human rights and the environment; and David Hayes, a partner in the Washington, D.C., office of Latham & Watkins, where his practice focuses on environmental, energy and natural resources issues.
The first day of the program, June 11, features sessions that will explore transboundary and transbasin management, market mechanisms and modeling, management strategies, and balancing water use for people and the environment. All of these Tuesday sessions are free and open to the public, including a 7 p.m. keynote address by Gleick titled "Overview of Global Water Issues and Challenges."
Wednesday through Friday sessions focus on transferring water lessons from around the world to the western United States. Among the topics are the role of markets and government; integrating environmental, cultural, and other public values in water law and policy; and transboundary water conflicts and cooperation.
Registration for the Wednesday through Friday sessions is required. Registration for Tuesday's free sessions is requested. A complete conference schedule and costs are posted at or call (303) 492-1288 for information. All sessions of the conference will be held in the Fleming Law Building on the CU-Boulder campus.
The Natural Resources Law Center is a research and educational center whose mission is to promote sustainability in the rapidly changing American West by informing and influencing natural resource laws, policies and decisions. The center marks its 20th anniversary in 2002.