The Currents
of Progress
The Colorado Water Fellows Program at DU’s Sturm College of Law is preparing the next generation of leaders to take on the West’s growing water challenges.
Text by Nicole Militello | Photos by Dave Pavlina
The state of Colorado sits at the center of the West’s water crisis, where every drop—and every decision about who has access—matters. Addressing this challenge requires a highly interdisciplinary approach, bringing together experts across engineering, science, policy, economics, data, technology, agriculture, and law.
At the heart of this diverse group are water lawyers, whose expertise is critical in navigating one of the most heavily regulated, contested, and complex natural resources in the world.
The University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law is stepping up to meet the demand for these skilled professionals at a time when decisions being made could have ripple effects for generations. Known for having one of the country’s most robust environmental and natural resources law programs, DU trains students not only in traditional areas like air and water pollution but also in pressing issues such as land use, climate change, environmental justice, energy, mining, oil and gas, wildlife—and water.
Now, first-year students can engage with water law from day one through the law school’s Colorado Water Fellows Program, which was launched two years ago with support from the Colorado Water Conservation Board. It’s part of a statewide network of similar programs coordinated by the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University. The network connects students from six universities, advancing the next generation of water leaders by linking them with professionals and opportunities across the sector.
“It’s truly an incredible program and pathbreaking in a lot of ways,” says Wyatt Sassman, the associate professor of law who leads the program along with Alexi Freeman, the Sturm College of Law’s associate dean for community support and engagement and professor of the practice of law.
“It has been an honor to collaborate on this program for the past two years as we aim to build the community of the next generation of water lawyers.”
The program builds on DU’s commitment to creating certainty, equity, and justice in the access, availability, and adaptability of water rights. With DU’s internationally recognized Water Law Review, its renowned water and natural resources faculty, and a far-reaching alumni network, the water fellows join a dynamic community working to meet the competing demands on one of the West’s most vital resources.
Training the next generation of water law leaders is critical in Colorado, which is home to the powerful Colorado River that supports millions across the Southwest. From backyard irrigation disputes to ongoing negotiations about the Colorado River allocations, decisions about water access and management have lasting consequences.
Bridging disciplines, building expertise
The Colorado Water Fellows Program spans six universities: DU, Colorado State University, Colorado Mesa University, Fort Lewis College, Metro State University of Denver, and the University of Colorado Boulder. More than 40 fellows come together regularly to share knowledge and develop skills, from technical expertise to the ability to build compelling narratives about the urgency of water rights. DU’s law students bring a distinctive perspective as the network’s first and only legal program.
“Being a water lawyer requires you to have the skillset to speak on the technical aspects of water while also leveraging and exercising your legal ability,” says Sassman, who also serves as co-director of Denver Law’s Environmental Law Clinic. “The interdisciplinary nature of this network puts our law students in the same spaces as students in engineering and a wide range of other disciplines, so they can build those connections early on. It really sets up our students for success.”
This academic year, five first-year law students were selected to participate in the program. They meet monthly, learning from experts and diving into critical water topics from the start of law school rather than waiting until later courses.
Fellows develop individualized plans, which may include curricular and non-curricular course recommendations, clinical opportunities, participation on the Water Law Review, externships, internships, and attendance at water law and policy conferences. Each student is also paired with an alumni mentor, who helps them navigate the community of attorneys, judges, and experts known as the water bar—the professionals who administer and litigate water rights in complex systems across the West.
“I believe water law will be one of the most impactful areas of law for decades to come. The work we do has lasting consequences. We’re planting seeds for trees that we may never sit under, and that’s what drives me.”
A confluence of connection
This year’s cohort of fellows reflects the breadth of experience and perspective shaping the future of water law, including individuals from across the country and a wide range of professional backgrounds. Among them are Madeleine Bradley, a former legislative associate for government affairs; William Nutt, a civil rights advocate; Nicole Wade, a first-generation college student who works for an affordable housing nonprofit; Anne-Marie Williams, a technology marketer whose upbringing in Texas sparked her interest in environmental justice; and Rosey Delaibau, who studied philosophy and poetry but always had an interest in natural resources and the environment.
That interest—and the water fellows program—led Delaibau to the Sturm College of Law, where she hopes to partner with Indigenous and tribal communities to advance sustainable and equitable access to clean water.
“My family is Indigenous Fijian, and even though I grew up in Arizona, I was raised in accordance with values around stewardship of the land and the ocean,” Delaibau says. “I have a lot of respect and veneration for water.”
When she saw the opportunity to be a water fellow in her first year—and to be part of the Denver Law Ascent pre-orientation program, which supports students from communities historically underrepresented in the legal profession—she knew the Sturm College of Law was the choice for her.
“Something I really appreciate about the program is how inclusive it is,” Delaibau says. “We have people from all walks of life. Some have known they wanted to be lawyers since they were 2 years old, and for others, this is their second career. To hear everybody’s perspectives is incredibly useful.”
Delaibau entered the program with a clear goal of pursuing water law, and the fellowship has kept her closely connected to that dream. Her mentor is Lindsey Ratcliff (JD ’19), who practices at Somach Simmons & Dunn in Durango, Colorado, where she represents clients ranging from private landowners and ranchers to municipalities and tribes. She handles both litigation and transactions, including the purchase and sale of water rights, and advises on rights tied to property.
The pair meet monthly, sharing experiences and discussing topics such as the challenges of law school, applying for jobs, and real-world examples of practicing water law. They hit it off right away after discovering they both come from Flagstaff, Arizona.
“It’s a serendipitous connection,” Delaibau says. “Professor Sassman and Dean Freeman were so deliberate when they placed us with each other. It’s really been my favorite part of the program.”
When DU reached out about becoming a mentor, Ratcliff knew right away she wanted to be involved. “This program is fantastic,” she says. “It’s invaluable to get exposure to water law early on and have a built-in community of people you can talk to. It elevates folks who are underrepresented in the water bar and allows for fresh perspectives and ideas on how we manage water.”
For Delaibau, seeing Ratcliff’s success has been an inspiration as she navigates the challenges of law school. “I strongly believe that in order to be something, you have to be able to see it,” she explains. “Lindsey is so generous with her mentorship, not only to me but also to anyone interested in water law. She’s not just helping us up the ladder—she’s building the ladder for us.”
Anchored in purpose
The water fellows program exemplifies a cornerstone of DU’s Four-Dimensional Experience: designing careers and lives of purpose. Rather than having to wait until their second year of law school to learn about the specifics of water law, fellows are anchored in their purpose from the beginning of their law school journey.
“This program is really important in helping students who come with an interest in water maintain that interest over their entire course of study,” Sassman says. “It can be difficult for students to stay focused on why they went to law school.”
Ratcliff echoes this sentiment. “If you’re curious about water, having one foot in that world while you’re still taking [first-year] classes would be so inspirational and help keep you grounded in that dream.”
Thanks to the ongoing high-stakes Colorado River negotiations, the dramatically low snowpack across the West, and the growing pressures of climate change, the field of water law will remain crucial in the challenges ahead.
“I believe water law will be one of the most impactful areas of law for decades to come,” Delaibau says. “It comes with real responsibility—water is essential to life, and the work we do has lasting consequences. We’re planting seeds for trees that we may never sit under, and that’s what drives me.”
The University of Denver Water Law Review
The University of Denver Water Law Review is an internationally circulated, student-run, semiannual publication that shares ideas, information, and policy analysis related to water law. Sturm College of Law students have been producing this valuable resource for nearly three decades. Students are responsible for the production of the publication from start to finish, gaining valuable experience in legal research, writing, management, and water law policy. The Review accepts submissions from practitioners, professors, judges, students, and all other water law professionals and scholars. Articles focus on water rights and water rights systems, water conservation and sustainability matters, water planning and development, water equity, and other water-related matters.
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