(University of Oregon School of Law, 2021-05-14) Housel, Tom
Water is undoubtedly one of our most precious resources, and the western United States is expected to face increasing scarcity as the climate continues to change and more people flock to arid cities like Los Angeles and Phoenix. Most surface waters of the western United States are fully appropriated, and climate change is further stressing those systems as water scarcity and drought occur more frequently. Low-income communities will suffer more than wealthier counterparts in times of scarcity under the current prior appropriation systems used by states in the West. Western states must be proactive in implementing safeguards to protect citizens when faced with water emergencies, as it is inevitable that drought and water scarcity will continue to be a threat to the stability of these communities in the coming decades.
