April 1, 2015

Why is there so much conflict over water in the American West? How do major cities and industrial agricultural systems thrive in semi-arid environments and deserts? How will tens of millions of people in the region cope with a warming climate? The course will run 4.5 weeks, accommodates flexible schedules, and requires a total of 20-25 hours to complete. Over a dozen experts in water management, policy, and research are contributing to the course, exploring the scientific, legal, political, and cultural issues impacting water and climate in the Western US. Building on this foundational understanding of climate and water in the West will allow students to examine the Colorado River Basin as a case study, and ultimately conclude the class with a deeper understanding of some controversial water issues faced in the American West. Educators can earn graduate level credit by signing up for a parallel two-credit hour course through The University of Colorado Boulder’s Division of Continuing Education.  For more information and to register, please visit https://www.coursera.org/course/waterwestus..