Published: Dec. 22, 2003

The Natural Resources Law Center at the University of Colorado at Boulder's School of Law is offering a free compact disc of its new book on groundwater law in the West.

The "Groundwater Law Sourcebook of the Western United States" provides an overview of the management and allocation issues that surround the use of groundwater in the West and a detailed explanation of groundwater law in each of the 11 Western states.

The 86-page book also can be downloaded at no cost from the Natural Resources Law Center's Web site.

"As the population of the American West continues to grow, one of the greatest challenges facing many communities is securing an adequate water supply," said natural resources law Professor Gary Bryner, the principal author of the book. "Since the legal systems for managing groundwater resources are so complex, we think the book will provide an indispensable tool for those looking for an explanation of how groundwater law works in each of the Western states."

An extensive appendix provides links to the major groundwater laws in Western states so users can stay abreast of any changes in the laws. The states covered in the sourcebook include Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

To download the book, order the free CD or for more information visit the CU-Boulder Natural Resources Law Center's Web site at or call (303) 492-1286.