Excerpts: Presented here is a brief discussion of the origins and purposes of water law in the Western States, and of the part which water law plays in determining the uses made of western land. The discussion summarizes the chapter on State Water Laws, in the Department publication, State Legislation for Better Land Use. This leaflet is designed for use by persons and groups interested in water use planning. In the greater part of the West, land use planning begins with water use planning. Good land is so much more abundant than water in most agricultural areas that water, rather than soil, is generally the limiting factor in land use. Even if all available water in the West were put to the fullest use, there still would not be enough water to bring the total cultivable land into farming and keep it there. Poor water use is poor land use in this region.