More than the economy, more than changing demographics, even
more than education, water is the key to the future of Texas. It is not 
much of an overstatement to claim that water is the future of Texas.

    In the fall of 2000, a conference on "the world's most crucial natural 
resource" was held at Texas A&M University. It was a gathering of 
people with many viewpoints and areas of expertise, all focused on 
what the book's editors rightly say is and will be the state's defining
issue—water.

    Together, the observations and recommendations brought 
together in this volume represent some of the best thinking about 
Texas' connections with water—in the past, present, and future.      
Ranging from broad historical overviews to technical and scientific 
discussions, the chapters address the questions of where we have 
been and where we are headed as we enter a new century of 
challenges to provide water for Texas.

_________________________________________________________

JIM NORWINE is a professor of geography and Regents Professor of
Physics and Geosciences at Texas A&M University–Kingsville. JOHN 
R. GIARDINO is dean of graduate studies at Texas A&M University, 
College Station, and a geomorphologist with a special interest in 
the movement of water through the earth. SUSHMA KRISHNAMURTHY 
is an associate professor of biology at Texas A&M International
University in Laredo.


Number Six: Texas A&M University Agriculture Series