Taft, fka Sherman & Howard, water law attorneys James Eklund and Hannah Mink will be speaking at the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) Annual Western Water, Ag & Environmental Law Conference. They will share their insights on the future of the Colorado River as crucial agreements need to be made regarding the river's water allocation.
In the University of Arkansas (U of A) System Division of Agriculture press release on the conference, Eklund said: "Decisions made this year will shape the future of Western agriculture for decades. While 2026 may seem like a distant milestone, the window for critical action is quickly closing."
"If an agreement isn't reached between the seven Colorado River Basin States, there will be broad consequences for Western agriculture," Mink noted in the press release.
This conference will run in Reno, Nevada from June 19 – 20, 2025. Eklund's and Mink's presentation, "Deadlines Matter & the Two-Year Clock is Ticking: The Fate of the Colorado River & Future of Ag" will be held on June 19, 2025, from 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Read the U of A press release HERE.
Register for the conference HERE.
Eklund leads Taft's Water and Natural Resources practice area. He is a strong advocate for smart water infrastructure and a recognized authority on water management in the American West. Eklund works with sovereign governments, multi-state authorities, state agencies, and private interests to deliver critical water infrastructure projects and to design policy regarding water law, natural resources, infrastructure, and environmental protection.
Mink works in Taft's Environmental Practice group, focusing on the complex legal requirements surrounding water and natural resource use. She works with a range of clients throughout the Colorado River Basin, including public and private interests, and collaborates on policy initiatives aimed at improving local and basin-wide water resource management.