As a water-scarce state with deep cultural attachments to private property rights, Texas has taken a unique evolutionary path with regard to water management. This new resource surveys past and current challenges for managing both groundwater and surface water, telling a comprehensive story about water policy in Texas, and identifying opportunities for improving future governance. Texas is the U.S. state that has experimented most thoroughly with water markets. In Water Policy in Texas, experts from broad disciplinary perspectives describe and analyze Texas water laws and management agencies, and the practices of water marketing and rate making in Texas. They explore the unique cases of the Edwards and Ogallala aquifers, the science and policy of environmental water stewardship, the extensive history of formalized water sharing with neighboring states and Mexico, and the opportunities for harnessing new technologies that might aid in addressing scarcity. This multidimensional, interdisciplinary book will be a valuable resource for students and researchers of Texas water policy, as well as for water managers worldwide, particularly those working within contexts of water scarcity.

Understanding the issues that have been encountered at other sites, and the steps that have led to successful resolution of these issues, can provide great help to those considering, planning, or implementing new groundwater recharge projects. Recent technical advances and operational experience have demonstrated that well recharge is a feasible and cost effective method of artificially recharging natural aquifers. This practical guide reviews the technical constraints and issues that have been addressed and resolved through research and experience at many sites. The book presents aquifer storage recovery (ASR) technology and traces its evolution over the past 25 years in the United States. Procedures for groundwater recharge are presented, and selected case studies are examined. Drinking water quality standards and conversion factors are provided in the appendix for easy reference.