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Character of regulation In gEneral. . Regulation of ground water under a statute based upon priority of approprIatIon necessarily involves In the first instance recognition and preservation of preexls~ing r~~hts. procedure for acqul ring new rIghts, and determlnatiol1 or a,ojudlcCll.lon of water rights, heretofore discussed. Statutes nat base~ on priority of appropriation do not purport to disturb o~ to enlarge the exl~ting basis of ground water rights in the jurJsC:ictlon, but they are concerned with existing uses of ground water and with new uses. U~der toth appro- priation and nonappropriatlon statutes, regulation of ground water includes protection and conservation of the ground water suP?iy, Instal- lation of wells, supervision over withdrawal of water, and prevention or correction of overdr~ft -- functions th~t will be dealt with presently. 't also Includes registration of we! Is, rsports from water users, and promulgation of rules aOld regulatlo;ls. ~L~ of regulat~)~. - Some ground water statutes authorIze the State ,~dminlstrator to enter upon private lands In order to examine wells and obtain required data. In e number of States, offIcials may bring action to enjoin violations of the statute; In 2 of them, they may intervene In court actions to prevent depletion of ground water supp II es. ArtesIan conservancy di strlcts In New Ilexico have concurrent authority with the State EngIneer to enforce regulatory provisIons of the statute where waters within the respectIve districts are affected. The State Engineer may Intervene In proceedings brought by or agaInst these dIstricts when necessary to protect or adjudIcate rights In'the pub 11 c waters. . Violation of any provision of the ground water statute Is generally declared to be a misdemeanor. Protection and conservation of ground water supptt Western ground water legislation is replete with prohibitions against depletion and unnecessary waste and pollution of ground water supplies, and with directIons that wasteful practices be brought under contro I. There are a number of broad legislatIve declarations of polley. Among these are that of Hawaii that the 9~ound w~ter rer-OurceS of all areas must be protected from the threat of exhaustion, depletion, waste. pollution, and deterioration by salt water encroachment; Idaho, directing the State administrator to do all thIngs reasonably necessary to prevent depletion of ground water resources; Nebraska, that conser- vation and beneficial use of ground water are essential to the future well being of the State; Nevada, that It Is the intent of the legisla- ture to prevent waste and pollution of ground water; Oregon, that - 10 -