Legal experts to explore Western water markets during NALC webinar
By Drew Viguet
National Agricultural Law Center
U of A System Division of Agriculture
July 8, 2025
Fast facts:
- Water markets allow the West to manage its most vital resource
- NALC “Western Water” webinar will highlight methods
- Registration available at no cost online
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Water markets are transforming how Western states manage one of their most vital — and limited — resources, and an upcoming webinar will examine the legal and policy framework behind these systems.
Water markets allow water rights to be bought, sold, or leased, giving farmers, cities, and other users flexibility to respond to drought, population growth, and shifting demand. These systems serve as a tool to manage scarce water supply while preserving water rights.
“These markets provide an adaptive mechanism to manage water in the West, particularly as Western states face increased competition for limited resources,” said Brett Bovee, intermountain regional director at WestWater Research, an economic firm offering solutions for water supply and market challenges.
Bovee will join Brian Hamilton, water rights attorney at California-based Downey Brand LLP, to present “Western Water Markets: Overview of Legal and Policy Considerations” on July 16 at 11 a.m. Central/Noon Eastern. Registration is available at no cost on the NALC website at nationalaglawcenter.org/webinars/western-water-markets.
The webinar is the latest installment in the NALC’s “Western Water” Webinar Series, which highlights pressing water law issues in the Western United States. Previous entries have examined topics such as groundwater recharge and water banking and leasing.
Hamilton said that for water markets to succeed, they must be built on a foundation of clear legal rules.
“Sound legal frameworks — especially through adjudications — are critical to creating the transparency and certainty needed for water markets to function effectively,” Hamilton said. “When structured well, these markets can be an effective tool for balancing sustainability, efficiency, and equity in water use.”
NALC Director Harrison Pittman said the “Western Water” Webinar Series plays an important role in sharing legal insight on water law across the country.
“Water is one of, if not the most, vital issues in agriculture,” said Pittman. “What’s happening in the West has national significance, and this webinar with Brett and Brian will help shed light on how water markets are evolving to meet today’s challenges.”
Recordings of previous installments in the “Western Water” Webinar Series are available on the NALC’s webinar archive online.
“We hope to provide attendees with an understanding of how these markets function, and the key legal and policy factors that influence their evolution,” Bovee said. “Brian and I are looking forward to providing an overview of water markets, as well as discussing recent legal and policy actions that could have an impact on future market activity.”
For information about the NALC, visit nationalaglawcenter.org. The NALC is also on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. Subscribe online to receive NALC Communications, including webinar announcements, the NALC’s Quarterly Newsletter, and The Feed.
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.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media contact:
Drew Viguet
Communications & Special Projects Coordinator
National Agricultural Law Center
dviguet@uark.edu