In this video, Assistant Attorney General Kate Ryan from the Colorado Supreme Court gives an overview of water rights across the Western US and the Prior Appropriation Doctrine. Learn why this doctrine is important for learning about water in the west. This video is part of the Water in the Western US project.
Kate Ryan's practice areas include water rights and natural resources law. Ryan also has a background in science, having received her B.S. magna cum laude from the College of William & Mary in 1997, where she studied environmental science and completed an honors thesis in hydrology. She also completed an M.A. in Geography at the University of Colorado, specializing in Arctic Climatology, and worked for two years as an associate scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado.
Water in the Western US is a free course, “Water in the Western United States,” offered through the platform Coursera, runs for five weeks, accommodates flexible schedules, and requires a total of 15 hours to complete. The course’s five modules are open for learners to complete at any time.
Over a dozen experts in water management, policy, and research contributed to the course to help learners consider the scientific, legal, political, and cultural issues impacting water and climate in the Western United States. Building on this foundational understanding of climate and water in the West, students examine the Colorado River Basin as a case study and conclude the class with a deeper understanding of controversial water issues faced in the American West.
