This chapter addresses the ways in which water is allocated among different users at scales ranging from farmers sharing an irrigation ditch to states sharing a large transboundary river. We discuss economic theory, legal principles, and the complex regulations that govern water use. We address questions such as these:
How should we allocate water among different users—and how do we actually allocate it?
How have various communities managed to share water and avoid the tragedy of the commons?
How do different US states allocate surface water and groundwater?
What are tribal reserved rights and interstate water allocations, and how do they fit into the overall picture of water rights?
Below you can download resources from the book and access new resources relevant to this chapter.