‘Western Water’ webinar will discuss Utah’s water law strategy, potential blueprint for other states
“Utah’s recent changes to and application of the Prior Appropriation Doctrine is one example other states may consider when designing a legal path to meet challenging water demands.” —Emily Lewis
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Feb. 3, 2025
Fast facts:
- National Ag Law Center’s “Western Water” series continues Feb. 12
- Attorney Emily Lewis will present
- Registration is free-of-charge online
(520 words)
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — With drought, water scarcity, and disrupted water cycles affecting many parts of the U.S., how states adapt to meet changing water demands is crucial. States like Utah could serve as a working model in how to address these complex challenges.
The Western U.S. has experienced multi-year drought characterized by years with low precipitation and persistent unusual warmth, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information’s Annual 2024 Drought Report. For the nation as a whole, 2024 was the warmest year on record.
To help combat its water challenges, Utah has taken many steps to update its water law, including adapting its 175-year-old Prior Appropriation Doctrine. The doctrine, which is the primary doctrine governing water law in the western U.S., is a legal method for determining who has claim to water sources in times of shortage and ensuring that water is put to beneficial use.
“Based in practicality, the 175-year-old Prior Appropriation Doctrine has proven to be surprisingly flexible in adapting to meet current water needs in the West, and in Utah in particular,” Emily Lewis, director and shareholder at Clyde Snow and Sessions, said. “Utah continually faces water issues, such as drought, disrupted water supplies, scarcity, and explosive population growth. Utah’s recent changes to and application of the Prior Appropriation Doctrine is one example other states may consider when designing a legal path to meet challenging water demands.”
Lewis will review Utah’s water law strategies in the National Agricultural Law Center’s Feb. 12 webinar, an installment in its “Western Water” Webinar Series. She will provide basics on the Prior Appropriation Doctrine and explore Utah’s strategic actions to modernize its water law.
“The progress our state has made is exciting, and, while much work is yet to done, the hope is that Utah’s efforts can act as a working lesson for other Western states to adapt to their own needs,” Lewis said.
The webinar, titled “Western Water Law in Action: A Primer on Basic Concepts of the Prior Appropriation Doctrine and How Utah is Modifying Water Law to Meet Modern Demands,” will begin at 11 a.m. Central/Noon Eastern. Registration is available at no cost on the NALC website at nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars/western-water-law.
NALC Director Harrison Pittman said the webinar will yield beneficial information about water law, one of the most vital issues in agriculture, that is applicable to the West and beyond.
“Water issues in the West impact all of agriculture,” said Pittman. “Our ‘Western Water’ Webinar Series puts that in perspective, focusing on an issue so important to the western region and beyond. Emily is a skilled presenter and we’re looking forward to her continuing this series.”
Additional water learnings opportunity
On June 19-20, the NALC and NASDA Foundation will host the third annual Western Water, Agricultural and Environmental Law Conference in Reno, Nevada. The conference highlights issues that uniquely impact the western region of the country, with several sessions focusing on water law. Lewis will co-present on the panel, “Water Banking and Leasing in the West: Practical Pointers and Pitfalls.”
Registration and conference information is available on the NALC website at nationalaglawcenter.org/western2025. A livestream option is available.
About the National Agricultural Law Center
Created by Congress in 1987, the National Agricultural Law Center serves as the nation’s
leading source of agricultural and food law research and information. The NALC works
with producers, agribusinesses, state and federal policymakers, lenders, Congressional
staffers, attorneys, land grant universities, students, and many others to provide
objective, nonpartisan agricultural and food law research and information to the nation’s
agricultural community.
The NALC is a unit of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and
works in close partnership with the USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural
Library.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative
Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas
System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension
and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex,
gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital
or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and
is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu