An attorney in Dickinson Wright’s Denver office, Rachel Bolt focuses her practice on environmental law and water rights. She assists public and private entities in navigating water-related challenges, including water court litigation, water supply planning, administrative proceedings, permitting processes, regulatory compliance, and negotiating transactions to secure reliable water supplies. Rachel represents public and private entities before Colorado Water Courts to adjudicate and protect clients’ water rights. Rachel’s experience also includes handling complex environmental matters such as navigating state and federal water quality regulations, hazardous waste compliance, and environmental permitting, as well as representing clients in administrative and judicial appeals before state and federal courts.
Rachel has represented individuals, municipalities, farmers, ranchers, land developers, mines, and industrial clients. She collaborates closely with clients to understand their objectives, provide clear guidance on the legal process, and develop tailored strategies to achieve successful outcomes.
With extensive experience in regulatory frameworks and litigation, Rachel provides practical solutions for her clients’ environmental and water rights needs.
Education & Credentials
Education
University of Colorado Law School
J.D.- Dean’s List, Spring and Fall 2016
- Participant, Moot Court
- Member, Environmental Law Society
- Student in Law of the Colorado River Seminar
University of Colorado
B.A., Environmental Studies and Political Science- magna cum laude
- Dean’s List, 2009-2012
- Executive Board, Alpha Phi Omega, Service Fraternity
Bar Admission
Prominent Assignments
Water Rights:
- Adjudicate new water rights, augmentation plans, and exchanges for homeowners, developers, and other water users.
- Protect clients’ senior water rights through water court litigation and negotiation.
- Negotiating ditch easement agreements between municipal clients, private entities, and ditch companies.
- Assist clients in obtaining and protecting well permits and groundwater rights.
- Successfully contested proposed Colorado Groundwater Commission rules at an administrative hearing.
- Assist buyers and sellers in water rights due diligence in connection with real estate transactions.
- Work closely with water rights engineers and other experts to achieve client objectives.
Environmental:
- Represented public and private clients in rulemaking and administrative hearings before state water quality regulators.
- Represented clients in administrative and judicial appeals of discharged permits.
- Advised clients on environmental compliance, including with permit terms and state and federal water quality and hazardous waste regulations.
- Successfully represented mining industry interest before the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in the first appellate opinion reported under the U.S. Supreme Court’s Maui framework.
- Assisted mining companies with water quality conditions in mining and reclamation permits, and negotiating favorable settlement of enforcement actions.
- Represented client in a challenge to state-issued RCRA permit.
Professional Involvement
- Colorado Bar Association