In the face of dwindling water supplies, the right to make use of water in its variously occurring forms has assumed increasing importance. In this article Professor Dolson examines present doctrines in Wisconsin and other jurisdictions relating to diffused surface water and riparian rights generally. The patchwork development of water law in the diverse contexts of private suits has tended to obscure serious public problems in these areas, the author concludes, and represents a genuine obstacle to any comprehensive and uniform resolution of present inconsistencies.
