More than the economy, more than changing demographics, evenmore 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 definingissue—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.