Tri-State Water Wars: Law, Policy, and Politics of a Shared River Basin Conflict
POLS 4785
3 hours
Tri-State Water Wars: Law, Policy, and Politics of a Shared River Basin Conflict
Course Description
Course uses an interstate dispute over shared river basins as the framework to explore issues around the application of United States federal and state environmental legislation, the interaction of statutory law and common law, the interplay of federalism in our constitutional structure as it relates to the application of law, and regulation in this context.
Athena Title
Tri-State Water Wars
Prerequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Student Learning Outcomes
Students will become familiar with the legal foundations underlying federal and state environmental legislation and accompanying regulations in the context of shared river basins and the use of water resources.
Students will become familiar with case law associated with litigation over the use of water resources.
Students will develop a better understanding of issues surrounding federalism and become familiar with Georgia and U.S. governance structures in water resource policy.
Students will develop a better understanding of multiple forums used to resolve conflicts, including litigation, negotiation, and alternative dispute resolution processes.
Topical Outline
The Historical Perspective: Water Resources in the Development of the United States
Legal and Institutional Framework for Water Management in the United States
Water law: basic concepts
Nature of Subnational Hydropolitics
Key Federal Water Interests (Eastern United States)
ACF Basin Background and History
Water Supply Planning/Management-Policy Overview
Role and Importance of Reservoir Management and Governance in ACF Basin
Endangered Species Act (Aquatic Species)
Shared Review Basin Management and Conflict Resolution
