Townhall Simulation: Deschutes Basin Water Rights
The «Deschutes Basin Water Rights» packet is a Townhall simulation that immerses students in the complexities of environmental law and resource management. Set in the context of a public town hall meeting, the curriculum tasks students with representing various stakeholders—such as the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, local farmers, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and urban developers—to debate the future of water allocation in the Deschutes Basin. Students apply the legal «Doctrine of Prior Appropriation» to evaluate competing claims based on «first in time, first in right» principles while considering the modern impacts of climate change and species protection. This resource helps students practice public speaking, consensus-building, and the application of administrative law to real-world ecological and economic conflicts.