About Colorado Water & the American West

In this class, students will study the rich history of water in Colorado and the American West, how native communities used it, and the American approach to water management.

Upon completion of this course, you will gain a basic understanding of:

  • Water in the west; from first peoples to Spanish Colonization
  • How John Wesley Powell influenced mapping western waterways
  • The function of prior appropriation
  • Reclamation and the Colorado River Compact
  • Denver and Los Angeles waters
  • Conflicts and opportunities in western water management in relation to Native Americans

Course information

Complete the full certificate with these other courses:

One World One Water Center

The One World One Water Center (OWOW) is a collaboration between Metropolitan State University of Denver and Denver Botanic Gardens. The OWOW Center strives to prepare an educated, empowered, solution-oriented Colorado citizenry to protect and preserve our precious water resources.