Editors' Summary

Effective management of scarce water resources is one of the most critical issues facing western states like Arizona. Extensive regulations designed to address groundwater overdraft in parts of the state strike a delicate balance between competing groundwater and surface water users. That balance is now under attack in a high stakes controversy over a groundwater importation project that pits two northern Arizona communities against the third largest public power utility in the country and other interests who claim their water rights (including surface water rights in the upper Verde River) will be adversely impacted by the project.