Colorado Environmental Law Journal

In measure, however, history has repeated itself . . . . To all these places the oil derrick has come like a conquering army driving all before it. Farms, fields, orchards, gardens, dooryards, and even homesteads have been given over to the mad search for oil. In nearly all appear the same steps of progress; a lucky strike, the rush for leases, sudden wealth to the fortunate ones, boom towns, stock companies, and sooner or later the inevitable decline.[1] I. INTRODUCTION The State of Colorado owes a great deal Continue reading →

  INTRODUCTION Our ancestors biggest fear, what they feared most at treaty time, was a loss of the ability to hunt, fish, and gather foods like they’d always done. That’s why they asked for these things to be included in the treaty. – Warm Springs Tribal Member[2] The first foods are the most important thing to us. When we lay out the first foods on the table it is like laying out your life, because the first foods are what sustain you. – Umatilla Tribal Continue reading →

PROLOGUE This piece, a story that has long needed to be told in full, traces the evolution of the historic 1971 decision by the citizens of the City of Boulder, Colorado to place a height limit of fifty-five feet on all future buildings. Ruth Wright is the perfect person to recount this fascinating episode. She was deeply involved in accomplishing this City Charter amendment and also happens to be a careful and objective scholar as well as a writer who knows how to present an Continue reading →

  INTRODUCTION ♣[1]†With continuing population growth and a changing climate, Colorado’s finite water resources face unprecedented pressure. Current projections indicate that Colorado’s population will increase from the current 5.2 million people to between 8.3 and 9.2 million by 2050.[5] As a result of population growth, 2050 municipal water demand is predicted to swell by 600,000 to 1,000,000 acre-feet annually—a sixty to 100 percent increase—primarily to meet Front Range needs.[6] Colorado’s remaining undeveloped water resources are limited, however, and pose nearly insurmountable challenges for thirsty Front Continue reading →

  INTRODUCTION In recent years, the Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) has attempted to institute a “Fast-Track” permitting process for renewable energy projects on public lands, which is supposed to increase the efficiency and speed of project development.[2] However, previous attempts have met procedural and administrative hurdles that have led to legal resistance.[3] The new changes BLM is making are likely to encounter similar problems. Given the ten-year trend toward fast-tracking permitting processes on western public lands, and the continued resistance by environmental and cultural Continue reading →