Supreme Court Justice in Telluride for water seminar

23 Sep Supreme Court Justice in Telluride for water seminar

[click “Play” to hear Susan’s conversation with Justice Hobbs

No doubt about it, the Colorado River, the life vein of the Southwestern U.S., is, well, in hot water.

The river output is hoarded the moment it dribbles out of the mountains of Wyoming and Colorado to begin its 1450-mile trip to the border of Mexico. The Colorado runs south through seven states and the Grand Canyon, delivering water to Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Diego,  powering homes for three million people, providing nourishment to 15 percent of the nation’s crops and drinking water to one in 12 Americans, a good thing in the best of all possible worlds. Only it isn’t.

Thanks to climate change, population growth, sprawl, and unsustainable practices, our water crisis is as complicated as the Colorado River is long. Challenged by drought and climate change, one environmental study described the Colorado as the nation’s “most endangered” waterway. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography warns the river’s already beleaguered reservoirs could dry up for good in 13 years.

Justice Hobbs was appointed to the Colorado Supreme Court in 1996. His community interests include serving as the Vice-President of the Colorado Foundation for Water Education, a co-convener of Dividing the Waters (Western Water Judges educational project), and a member of Colorado’s Access to Justice Commission. Before his appointment to the Court, Justice Hobbs practiced law in public and private practice for 25 years with emphasis on water, environment, land use and transportation.

For a preview, click the “play” button and listen to Justice Hobbs’ podcast.

For registration information, contact Denise at the Water Information Program at (970) 247-1302 or Colleen at TNCC (970) 728-1340 or e-mail:  admin.tncc@gmail.com.