Environmental Law & Policy Alert – Update from Somach Simmons & Dunn

August 18, 2026

Drought and Emergency SWSPs: The Colorado Doctrine Showcases Its Flexibility

Colorado water law is famously known for its strict adherence to the prior appropriation regime that governs much of the American West. So much so, in fact, it even has its own colloquialism: the “Colorado Doctrine.” Certainly, at face value, it is a rigid system, built around seniority and curtailment to junior users.
But beneath all the surficial rigidity is a water regime surprisingly ripe with flexibility … Read More

Written by Oliver W. Skelly