Edited by Mary K. Sahs
Published by the State Bar of Texas
KFT 1646 .A75 E87 2016
Water, it can be said, is our greatest and most precious natural resource. It is both life-giving and life-sustaining as well as the subject of a complex and, oftentimes, political area of law. Thanks to a project of the State Bar of Texas Environmental & Natural Resources Law Section, the field of water law can be more easily understood. Now, in its fourth edition, Essentials of Texas Water Resources provides an overview of the challenges the state will face as the population continues to grow and shift and water resources become more burdened. The book begins with an overview of the two systems of water rights: surface water and ground water, and the legislative oversight given to these two systems in the forms of water districts and river authorities and regional water districts. Key to this oversight are the protections afforded to water rights by the enforcement statutes set forth in the Texas Water Code. Using the lessons learned from the most recent drought here in Texas, the authors also address changes made to the state’s water planning laws and the evolution of the groundwater management as well as some water management strategies. Other issues include the effect of the Endangered Species Act on water rights, the economic value of water, and the governmental acquisition of water rights. Filled with many handy illustrations, this book is an invaluable resource for those new to the field of water law and for those who simply need a brush-up.