LAW Policy Practicum: Stream Flow Restoration Transactions
Environmental Law: Conservation & Natural Resources

Regulatory & Policy
Environmental Law
Conservation & Natural Resources


Environmental Law: Conservation & Natural Resources
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Item is good for 6 routes, rollover orange dots above to see which ones! LAW 413K Policy Practicum: Stream Flow Restoration Transactions Law School Recommended for route(s): [ Regulatory & Policy ] Environmental Law: Conservation & Natural Resources Why it is relevant for ... [ Regulatory & Policy ] as a Related Elective for those interested in Public Policy : A policy practicum is a great choice for skills-based training in the range of methods available to effect changes in the law. Some policy labs, like this one, offer students an opportunity to do research on the scope of a problem not adequately addressed in current law or regulation. Students develop proposals for new or revised regulation based on problems identified in their research. This course should be useful for future environmental lawyers who want hands-on experience in analyzing data and developing methodologies for use in promoting good environmental outcomes. It focuses on the twin goals of protecting water resources and promoting efficient irrigation methods in the western studies under study. General course Description: Water in the West (a joint program of the Woods Institute and the Lane Center for the American West) is working with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) on research related to water rights transactions that restore water to the environment. Rivers in the western United States are subject to significant water withdrawals that have had major impacts on the health of their ecosystems. In an effort to restore the health of such rivers, a number of conservation groups have begun to facilitate voluntary transactions to restore water to the environment, such as acquiring water rights and funding irrigation efficiency improvements. NFWF has extensive experience with these efforts through its funding of the Columbia Basin Water Transaction Program and implementation of the Walker Basin Restoration Program, and intends to expand its efforts to other parts of the West. It faces the challenge of deciding where to invest funds and resources in order to achieve the greatest conservation benefits for available dollars. Students in this policy lab will assist NFWF in the development of an assessment methodology for identifying and analyzing watersheds in the western United States as potential locations for expanding its efforts. Our work will focus on evaluating western states in terms of the extent to which they allow the transfer of water rights for environmental use and in terms of the regulatory, financial, and social hurdles such transactions face in each state. We will also analyze data related to stream flow alteration and work with NFWF to integrate this information into its broader assessment. Finally, we will work with NFWF staff to integrate our work into their broader assessment and help them begin to evaluate specific candidate watersheds. Elements used in grading: As agreed to by instructor. Consent Application: To apply for this course, students must complete and e-mail the Consent Application Form available on the SLS Registrar's Office website (see Registration and Selection of Classes for Stanford Law Students) to the instructors. See Consent Application Form for submission deadline. Course Style: |