For more than 30 years, Dividing the Waters has offered essential education on water law and science to prepare the next generation of judges to adjudicate the increasing number of water conflicts. Although network membership historically was limited to judicial officers, anyone with an interest in water law and water science education is now invited to join the DTW network. This means that anyone who subscribes to the network will receive DTW’s monthly newsletter, known as the Network Note, and will have access to its unique on-line/on demand courses and certain webinars, all presented by subject matter experts. In some cases, these resources are free of charge, and in others, the fees are modest. All are welcome.
Dividing the Waters began as an informal discussion forum for those presiding over general stream adjudications, which can involve thousands of parties and require years to resolve. Since then, DTW has evolved to address an even broader variety of today’s critical water issues, including water quality and the challenges of water use and management in the urban/rural interface. Courts have seen a surge in water cases, especially in areas suffering extreme drought, and DTW seeks to assist judges in learning how to adjudicate conflicts where the public interest is at the center of the dispute. It does this by preparing judicial officers to efficiently and effectively adjudicate all types of water law cases. Although long affiliated with the National Judicial College, DTW is now an integrated part of NJC’s curriculum and programming.
Dividing the Waters’ board of Conveners serve or have served as judicial officers in a variety of capacities–Special Masters, Federal Water Masters, general jurisdiction trial court Judges, and Appellate Judges and Justices from Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington. The Conveners guide DTW’s work on a volunteer basis. Foundation grants and financial contributions from several western states have given necessary support for developing educational resources. NJC provides essential administrative and technical staff support. Academicians, subject matter experts, executive branch employees, and attorneys from the public and private sectors generously donate their time to support this important work.
The Conveners hope you will join DTW’s network, whether you have or anticipate being assigned a water law case, or simply have an interest in an issue so important to our times. Network subscriptions are free of charge.