Environmental Studies 410
Water and the American West
Course Overview:
American western water law and policy have been a source of increased public interest and philosophical debate, especially in recent years, as resources become depleted and water dependent ecosystems become more damaged and distressed.
This four-credit course examines conflict over water rights in the American West. Using the Deschutes Basin in Central Oregon as a case study, we will study water law and policy, examine the root causes of conflicts over water and innovative approaches used to resolve them. We will spend the six days in the field meeting with landowners, planners, wildlife biologists, economists, and environmentalists in the Deschutes Basin. The course will culminate in a two-day raft trip on the Deschutes River. Students will be required to complete a set of pre-course readings, submit a major written assignment on a related topic, and complete a major mapping assignment.
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