Negotiating Tribal Water Rights: Fulfilling Promises in the Arid West.

• Position: Book Review

Bonnie G. Colby, John E. Thorson, and Sarah Britton. 355 S. Euclid, Ste. 103, Tuscon, Arizona 85719: University of Arizona Press, May 2005. (520) 621-8899. www.uapress.arizona.edu. ISBN 0-8165-2455-6. 190 pp. $35.00 Paperback.

Water conflicts plague every river in the West. However, the thorniest dilemmas are found in the many basins containing Indian reservations and reserved water rights--rights usually senior to all others on the over-appropriated rivers. Negotiations and litigation over tribal water rights shape the future of both Indian and non-Indian communities throughout the region, and intense competition for limited water supplies has increased pressure to address tribal water claims.

Much has been written about Indian water rights, but for the many tribal and non-Indian stakeholders who rely upon western water, this book now offers practical guidance on how to negotiate water conflicts. By providing a comprehensive synthesis of western water issues, tribal water disputes, and alternative approaches to dispute resolution, this book offers a valuable sourcebook for all tribal councils, legislators, water professionals, attorneys, and laypersons who need a basic understanding of the complexities of water rights.

The book reviews the history, current status, and case law related to western water while revealing strategies for addressing water...