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Show PREFACE viii agricultural and other water users, as well as organizations and agencies concerned with water supply, allocation, distribution, development, conserva- tion, planning, and affiliated functions. The intricate mosaic of constitutional, legislative, judicial, administrative, contractual, and other provisions that may make up the involved structure and operation of the water rights laws in the Western States is so extensive that, even in a work of this size, not all of its myriad facets could possibly be examined. Moreover, various related laws are not dealt with or are only briefly discussed, such as those dealing with the organization of irrigation, drainage, and other districts, river control in aid of navigation, flood prevention, and water quality regulatory programs. In view of such considerations, as well as the fact that the laws may change and their application may depend upon the particular circumstances, the discussion should not be regarded as a substitute for competent legal advice on specific problems. While the research was underway, several requests were made urging Mr. Hutchins to prepare reports on the water rights laws of particular Western States, as he had done previously for the Territory of Hawaii. In response, separate reports were written for nine of the 19 Western States, including California, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah. Citations of these and the other numerous publications of Mr. Hutchins are included at the end of volume three. Mr. Hutchins was completing the manuscript for this publication at the time of his death on September 19, 1970. Since that time, the undersigned colleagues of Mr. Hutchins, Harold H. Ellis and J. Peter DeBraal, have conducted the work considered necessary to complete the publication. Mr. Ellis provided leadership for this and other water law studies in recent years. He and Mr. DeBraal have made final updating and a variety of other revisions and additions in the manuscript. It has been updated so as to incorporate discussions of significant recent legislative changes and reported court decisions to January 1,1970. In view of the magnitude of the undertaking, at Mr. Hutchins' request a few chapters in volumes two and three are authored by different persons. These chapters and their authors will be identified in those volumes. Grateful acknowledgement is made of the assistance of law student assistants Bonnie Lea, John Fruth, Michael Hughes, and R. Kent Gardner as well as the editorial work of Daniel W. Michaels and the typing and secretarial services of Gertrude Lane, Mildred Naughton, and Brenda Adams. Special thanks is due Mrs. Wells A. Hutchins for her untiring and invaluable interest, encouragement, and assistance. Harold H. Ellis J. Peter DeBraal |