Lawrence J. MacDonnell

Professor of Law

B.A., University of Michigan (1966)
J.D., University of Denver College of Law (1972)
Ph.D., Colorado School of Mines (1975)

Email lmacdonn@uwyo.edu
Phone (307) 766-6107
Office 208 College of Law
Publications
Presentations

Office Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Lawrence MacDonnell first came to the University of Wyoming College of Law as a Visiting Professor in the Fall of 2008, teaching water law and a natural resources and environment seminar. He is now part of the College's full time faculty as a Professor of Law teaching Water Law, Public Lands, and Natural Resources, and is the faculty advisor for the Wyoming Law Review. MacDonnell has previously served as the original director of the Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado School of Law and as an Assistant Professor in Mineral Economics at the Colorado School of Mines, where he taught micro and macro economics, environmental economics and mineral transactions. He has worked in private law practice, as a consultant, and for nonprofit organizations.

Professor MacDonnell's research, writing and speaking focus on water, natural resources and the environment. He is especially interested in ways to make development and use of natural resources more environmentally sustainable. He has also been instrumental in the organization and establishment of community-based watershed protection and restoration groups including the Colorado Watershed Assembly and the Colorado Water Trust.

International Experience:
2006: Africa - Participant in five-day workshop in Accra, Ghana to develop guidelines for interbasin transfers of water in Africa. Sponsored by the United Nations Commission for Africa. Presentation on U.S. experience with interbasin transfers of water and development of legal rules governing interbasin transfers.

2004: Colombia - Consultancy for the Ministry of the Environment, Republic of Colombia. Projecto Ley De Agua. Prepared an analysis of Colombia's existing laws related to water and watercourses, both quality and quantity, and made detailed proposals for revisions.

2003: India - Three week series of meetings in India arranged by the U.S. State Department to discuss experience in the United States respecting sharing of water. Presentations in Aurangabad, Amedabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Guwahati, Kolkata, and New Delhi.

2001: Mexico - Conference on Urban-Rural Competition for Water: Examples from Mexico and the United States, Monterrey, Mexico.

1992: Chile - One-week trip to Santiago to participate in conference on mining and environmental regulation.

1997: Vietnam - One week trip to Hue to participate in workshop on Legal and Institutional Conditions for Integrated Land Use, Watershed Planning and Irrigated Agriculture. Sponsored by the German Foundation for International Development.

1991: Germany - One-week trip to Berlin to participate in International Round Table on Mining and Environment, UN Department of Technical Cooperation for Development, Berlin, Germany, June 26, 1991.

1990: Australia - One-week trip to Armidale, New South Wales to discuss transferability of water entitlements at the The Centre for Water Policy Research, University of New England.

1987: China - Ten-day trip to meet with academics and governmental officials to discuss comparative approaches to environmental law and management. Sino-American Conference on Environmental Law. Beijing.

1982: Brazil - One month consultancy with the Center for Economic Development at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Teaching:
Endangered Species Act Seminar, Federal Water Law, Law Review, Legal Writing, Natural Resources Law, and Water Law

Service:
- Co-chair, Friends of Boulder Open Space, 2006-present.

- Member, Advisory Board, SAHRA (Sustainability of Semi-Arid Hydrology and Riparian Areas), University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 2005-2009.

- Member, Natural Resources Law Center Advisory Board, 2000 2009.

- Co-Chair, Natural Resources and Environment Section, Boulder County Bar Association, 2002-2004.

- Member, Committee on Assessment of Water Resources Research, Water Science and Technology Board, National Research Council, 2002-2004.

- Co-Founder of Colorado Water Trust, 2001-2002.

- Co-Founder and Board member, Colorado Watershed Network, 2000-2001.

- Co-Founder and Steering committee member, Colorado Watershed Assembly, 2000-2001.

- Member, City of Boulder Open Space Board of Trustees, 1999-2004.

- Vice-Chair, Committee on Riparian Management, Water Science and Technology Board, National Research Council, 1998-2001.

- President, Colorado Riparian Association, 1996-97; member of board, 1994-98.

- Member, Committee on the Future of Irrigation, Water Science and Technology Board, National Research Council, 1993-1996.

- Western Regional Team member, Natural Resources Task Force, President's Commission on Sustainable Development, 1994-1995.

- Board Member, Hydrosphere, Inc., 1990-1995.

- Vice-Chair, Colorado Council on Rocky Flats (An Advisory Committee to Governor Roy Romer and Congressman David Skaggs), 1989-93.

- Board Member, Ecocycle, 1986-89.

Affiliations, Associations, Consultation:
- Visiting Professor, University of Wyoming College of Law, Fall 2008 semester, teaching water law and a natural resources and environment seminar.

- Named to Colorado "Super Lawyer" list in 2008.

- Adjunct Instructor, University of Colorado School of Law, Public Lands and Resources Law, Spring Semester, 2007.

- Adjunct Instructor, University of Colorado School of Law, Water Law, Spring Semester 2004.

- Adjunct Scientist, Environmental and Societal Impacts Group, National Center for Atmospheric Research, 1991-1995.

Selected Memberships:
- Water Law Section, Colorado Bar Association

- Natural Resources and Environment Section, Boulder County Bar Association

- Colorado Watershed Assembly

- Colorado Riparian Association