Tribal Water Rights: Essays in Contemporary Law, Politics, and Economics.

• Position: Book review

Edited by John E. Thorson, Sarah Britton, and Bonnie G. Colby. 355 S. Euclid Avenue, Suite 103, Tucson, AZ 85719: The University of Arizona Press, May 2006. (800) 426-3797. www.uapress.arizona.edu. ISBN 0-8165-2482-3. 304 pp. $50.00 Hardback.

The settlement of Indian water rights cases remains one of the thorniest legal issues in this country, particularly in the West. In a previous book, Negotiating Tribal Water Rights, Colby, Thorson, and Britton presented a general overview of the processes involved in settling such cases; this volume provides more in-depth treatment of the many complex issues that arise in negotiating and implementing Indian water rights settlements.

Tribal Water Rights brings together practicing attorneys and leading scholars in the fields of law, economics, public policy, and conflict resolution to examine issues that continue to confront the settlement of tribal claims. With coverage ranging from the differences between surface water and groundwater disputes to the distinctive nature of Pueblo claims, and from allotment-related problems to the effects of the Endangered Species Act on water conflicts, the book presents the legal aspects of tribal water rights and negotiations along with historical perspectives on their evolution.

The contributors examine the results of tribal water settlements to date with an eye toward advancing the process for the benefit of Native Americans. They also offer practical advice grounded in actual settlements, such as the Klamath Basin disputes and the Montana headwaters cases. This coverage makes the book a key resource for professionals who work in water management and interjurisdictional conflict resolution. It also makes it indispensable...