As the current drought demonstrates, water is not always where it is wanted and needed and its allocation is becoming one of the most pressing issues of our time. Everywhere, it is becoming known as “blue gold”, as issues of price as well as availability achieve strong focus and the forces of demand, supply, and conservation converge on the domains of law and ethics, policy and politics.
Our course will concentrate on three major topics: rights in water; issues of sustainability; and stewardship, including innovative technological advancements. For some of our specific topics within these units, we will treat Texas as our living laboratory. The course will offer an introduction to hydrology through guest-expert participation. The instructor will introduce her own new work in the relationship between law and policy and the inter-disciplinary science of bioprecipitation.
1L students will write two brief analytic papers for this course. The first will be on a topic of the instructor’s choice. The second will be on a topic of the student’s choice, with the instructor’s approval. Papers written for this course have morphed into law review Notes and student-selected topics will be culled for this potential, if the student so wishes.
There is no prerequisite for this course. It will meet together with the upper-level course of the same name. 1L students and upper-level students will be graded as separate groups.
Cohen, Jane M.