Rachael Paschal Osborn

The Columbia Institute for Water Policy was founded by Rachael Paschal Osborn and John Osborn in March 2005.

Rachael Osborn is a public interest water lawyer and has provided representation to Indian tribes, environmental organizations, labor unions, and small communities since 1992.  She served as co-founder and executive director of the Center for Environmental Law & Policy (1993-1999), and co-founder and board member of Washington Water Trust (1997-2001), two organizations dedicated to the protection and restoration of free-flowing waters in Washington state.

Rachael is a dedicated educator and has taught scores of water law and policy courses over the years -- in law schools, conferences, seminars, workshops and classrooms -- and has written extensively on water resources and environmental issues.  She currently teaches courses in environmental law and water law at Gonzaga Law School in Spokane.