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<br />hydrology, meteorology, soil science and other fields of agriculture. <br />All in some way relate to the occurrence of ground water; its measure- <br />ment in volume, depth, rate of movement, age, source, replenishment, <br />depletion, recharge, transmissibility, and recovery; its relation to <br />precipitation, evaporation and infiltration; its use by plant life; its <br />place in the hydrologic cycle; the results of ground water withdrawal <br />upon other parts of the aquifer; the fluctuations of the water table; <br />the effect of its withdrawal upon stream flow, seepage, water logging <br />and drainage; its waste, efficiency of use, and conservation; the <br />efficiency of pumping equipment; improved methods of irrigation; its <br />use in domestic water systems, aud in industry. All available facts <br />should be compiled and collated. We need more scientific data and <br />knowledge of these and many other fields. <br /> <br />The legal problems are manifold. Does the state have <br />the right to determine ownership, contl'ol and the right of use to <br />ground water? To whom does the water belong? Does it belong to <br />the state and its people? Is it the pl"Operty of the owner of the over- <br />lying surface, the man who first tapped the aquifer, the one who holds <br />the decree of priority on the stream, the first well user, or the entire <br />group of owners of the overlying aquifer? Does the holder of the <br />number one priority on the stream have the right to shut down all <br />the wells on the stream or any of them? What is the legal meaning <br />of the word "tributary"? What damages are recoverable? What <br />constitutes beneficial use? IE, there a right to recapture or the right <br />to reuse? What rights do the neighboring states have? What are the <br />relative rights, functions and responsibilities of the city or town, the <br />irrigation district, the conservancy district, the state and its agen- <br />cies and the federal government and it s agencies? Can ownership <br />of ground water itself be distinguished from the right to its use? <br />What theory of law or what combination of theories will result in <br />the optimum use of ground water for the people? Should a different <br />system of law be applied to ground water from that applied to <br />streams? Should a different theory of law be applied to replenish- <br />able aquifers from that applied to non-replenishable aquifers? <br /> <br />Problems of public administration include: the number <br />and type of organizations or districts to be pr.ovided for at the federal, <br />state and local levels; the exercise of the sovereign powers of the <br />state under existing provisions of the constitution and statutes, and <br />the division of functions an!:! authority between the state agencies. <br />Should the existing state agencies continue to operate as they do now <br />or should they be combined into one agency? What is the function of <br /> <br />- 3 - <br />