September 2005 – Law of the Colorado River: Points of Tension
- William H. Swan
Attorney and Consultant
More than 25 million people in seven western states, two Mexican states and 32 American Indian
tribal communities depend on water from the Colorado River, which flows 1,700 miles from Wyoming's
melting glaciers and Colorado's snow run-off, then falls 14,000 feet before reaching the Gulf of
California. Along the river's path are 20 hydroelectric plants, 10 major dams, 80 diversion channels,
six national parks and numerous recreation areas.
With so many demands on the river come
disagreements among those who rely on the river for livelihood. Bill Swan will discuss the
key points of contention pertaining to Colorado River law in his presentation on Wednesday,
September 7, 2005.
Swan is a 1972 graduate of Arizona State University (B.S. Economics) and
received his law degree in 1975 from California Western School of Law in San Diego. He is a
member of the California bar. A former attorney and field solicitor with the Department of
the Interior, and now an attorney in private practice, Swan has become very familiar with the
law of the Colorado River and the unique issues encountered in the three lower division states
of Arizona, Nevada and California, and in the Republic of Mexico.
Author of numerous articles
and a frequent presenter of lectures on Colorado River law, Swan today focuses much of his
professional practice on matters related to implementing the California Water Use Plan and
compliance with state and federal environmental laws.
Presentation (760K pdf)
Handout (777K pdf)
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