- Two-day event held June 5–6 in Boulder, Colorado.
- Speakers include tribal leaders, legal scholars, and water policy experts.
- Topics range from Glen Canyon to tribal water rights and future planning.
- Native American Rights Fund’s “Headwaters Report” gains new attention.
- Final conference registration deadline is May 29, 2025.
Thursday, May 22, 2025 — On June 5–6, 2025, decision-makers, legal experts, tribal leaders, and water professionals will gather in Boulder, Colorado, for the annual Conference on the Colorado River. Co-hosted by the Getches-Wilkinson Center and the Water & Tribes Initiative, this year’s event carries the theme, Turning Hindsight into Foresight: The Colorado River at a Crossroads
. The two-day event will be held at the University of Colorado’s Wolf Law Building and includes in-person and remote participation options.
This year’s program arrives at a critical point as stakeholders across the Colorado River Basin work to develop new operational guidelines before current agreements—such as the Interim Guidelines, Minute 319, and various drought contingency plans—expire in 2026. Panels will evaluate what has worked, what has not, and what must be reconsidered as water scarcity and climate uncertainty increase.
Spotlight on Tribal Water Rights.
Tribal perspectives and legal rights will be central to this year’s discussions, particularly during a dedicated panel titled Updates from the Tribes. Thirty tribes in the basin hold legal claims and cultural interests tied to Colorado River water. Panelists, including representatives from the Gila River Indian Community, the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, will speak on some of the most pressing concerns facing Indigenous communities today.
This growing focus coincides with the emergence of The Headwaters Report, a new publication by the Native American Rights Fund (NARF). Developed through NARF’s Tribal Water Institute, The Headwaters Report serves as a resource hub for Tribal Nations and the broader public. It provides timely articles, legal updates, and educational slide decks that explain foundational water law concepts affecting Indian Country. The publication is also designed to strengthen tribal capacity to engage in policy reform and litigation.
The report’s name pays homage to Searching Out the Headwaters, a seminal work co-authored by late NARF attorneys David Getches and Charles Wilkinson. That book challenged whether the roots of Western water law remain relevant—or should evolve with changing times. In the same spirit, the report explores whether contemporary solutions are possible within aging legal frameworks.
A Deep and Varied Program.
The full agenda for the conference reflects the diversity of thought and experience within the Colorado River Basin. Among the planned sessions:
-
Modern Challenges Through a Historical Lens looks at water law development from the Ancient Puebloans to today.
-
The Aridification of Agriculture examines how to reconcile regional water deficits with agricultural demand.
-
Rethinking Infrastructure features the premiere of What the River Knows, a new film exploring Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Powell’s future.
-
Insights from the Basin States offers a rare opportunity to hear state leaders speak—cautiously—on negotiation progress.
-
Looking Beyond the Rule-Making urges the community to step past temporary fixes and envision long-term, equitable solutions.
Speakers include a wide range of thought leaders such as Brad Udall of Colorado State University, Anne Castle of the Getches-Wilkinson Center, Celene Hawkins of The Nature Conservancy, and John Fleck of the University of New Mexico. Attorneys representing tribal nations—including Bidtah Becker (Navajo Nation), Jason Hauter (Gila River Indian Community), and Jay Weiner (Quechan Tribe)—will bring critical legal perspectives to the table.
Register Soon—Time Is Running Out.
Registration for the conference closes on May 29, with no refunds offered after May 15. Attendees can earn up to 15 general continuing legal education (CLE) credits approved in Colorado. A reception will be held the evening of June 5, and meals are provided both days.
A hotel block is available at the Residence Inn Boulder Canyon Boulevard. Those interested in the discounted rate should reserve as soon as possible, as availability ends May 7 or when the block is full.
In conjunction with the conference, those interested in tribal perspectives are encouraged to explore The Headwaters Report at https://narf.org/welcome-to-the-headwaters-report.
It is a starting point for understanding the legal, historical, and policy challenges that shape tribal water rights today—an area of law too often overlooked yet central to the future of the Colorado River.
Leave a Reply