Field Guide to Water Rights & Resource Issues
(Updated June 2009)
Mark Twain said, “Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting over.” Indeed, water rights have been a source of conflict and controversy throughout the history of the world. Ever expanding populations and resulting development continue to exacerbate the debate, particularly in the American West. Water conservation is becoming the norm in many parts of the country as municipalities struggle to keep up with demand. (D. Foligno, Project Coordinator)
How America Uses Water
Electric Power - 48%
Irrigation - 34%
Public Supply - 11%
Industrial - 5%
Livestock - <1%
Mining - <1%
Aquaculture - <1%
Source: Estimated Use of Water in the U.S. - 2000, (U.S. Geological Survey, Dec. 2005).
Water Resources & Issues
Next stage of green building industry to focus on water efficiency, (Realty Times, June 24, 2009).
Leaders: Awash in waste; Water rights, (The Economist, Apr. 11, 2009). Q
Public has right to walk upon privately owned river beds when using state waters, (Appraisal Journal, Winter 2009). Q
THERE WILL BE WATER; T. Boone Pickens thinks water is the new oil--and he's betting $100 million that he's right, (Business Week, June 23, 2008). Q
Tradable Water Rights, (Brookings Institution/Democracy: A Journal of Ideas, Spring 2008).
When new building dries up resources, (New York Times, July 15, 2007).
What lies beneath: low ground-water levels are causing some Boston structures to rot under the surface, (Boston Globe, Apr. 2007).
Big gulp: quenching Texans' thirst for water, (Tierra Grande/Texas A&M, Apr. 2007).
Linking housing growth to water supply, (Journal of the American Planning Association, Spring 2006). Q
Water Rights
Water wars leave Northern Colorado farmers dry, (Reporter-Herald.com, Apr. 6, 2009).
Arizona high court: water rights stay with property, (Fox11AZ.com, Mar. 19, 2009).
Black Ohio neighborhood unjustly denied water for decades, jury finds, (Christian Science Monitor, July 11, 2008).
Calls rise for public control of water supply, (Wall Street Journal, June 17, 2008). Q
The Appraisal of Water Rights: Valuation Methodology, (The Appraisal Journal, Spring 2008). Q
Land Use & Water
430 Idaho groundwater users told to stop pumping, (KTVB.com, Mar. 5, 2009).
Groundwater: The Hidden Source of Life (Video), (Groundwater.org).
How much do we depend on groundwater? (Groundwater.org).
Linking growth and land use to water supply, (Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Apr. 2003).
Water Quality Issues
Tons of released drugs taint US water, (U.S. News & World Report, Apr. 19, 2009).
Local drinking water information, (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Apr. 9, 2008).
Healthy water: real estate sales depend on it, (Realty Times, Sept. 2006).
What contaminants may be found in drinking water, (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nov. 28, 2006).
Useful Websites
Surf your watershed, (EPA.gov). -search by zip code
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - 2006 Water Quality Guides
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - Small Systems Guides
Water Quality "Glossary" - U.S. Geological Survey
What is groundwater?, (Groundwater.org).
Troubled waters, (Henry L. Stimson Center, May 2009).
100 Ways to conserve, (WaterUseItWisely.com, 2009).
Water Quiz - U.S. Geological Survey
American Water Works Association
Hydrologic A-Z dictionary, (U.S. Geological Survey).
National Drinking Water Clearinghouse
National Institutes for Water Resources - State water resource institute links
eBooks & Other Resources
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
Clean water: An introduction to water quality and water pollution control, by Kenneth M. Vigil, (Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Press, 2003). TD 370 V55
The Clean Water Act handbook, 2nd Ed., (Chicago, IL: American Bar Association, 2003). KF 3790 C545
Beyond litigation: Case studies in water rights disputes, (Washington, DC: Environmental Law Institute, 2002). TD 345 E58
Water wars: Drought, flood, folly, and the politics of thirst, by Diane Raines Ward, (New York: Riverhead Books, 2002). TD 345 W257
Water follies: Groundwater pumping and the fate of America's fresh waters, by Robert Glennon, (Washington, DC: Island Press, 2002). TD 223 G58
Field Guides & More
These Field Guides and other resources in the Virtual Library may also be of interest:
Field Guide to Agricultural/Farm Land
Field Guide to Private Property Rights
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