UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Pennsylvania will be revising its master plan for water use and allocation during the coming year, so water quality and management specialists with Penn State Cooperative Extension have released an updated publication that will help Pennsylvanians understand the commonwealth's system of water rights.

"Access and Allocation of Water in Pennsylvania" is a free booklet that covers the basics of water law, questions about user rights and how water planning may influence the current system of water rights. The booklet analyzes the Water Resources Planning Act of 2002 (Act 220), which mandates a 2008 update of Pennsylvania's water plan. The updated plan will address such questions as how much water state residents have access to and how it can be used.

"Act 220 will influence our state's system of water rights for the future, so there is a great need for everyone in the state to understand the processes, the issues and the key decisions in order to play an effective part in designing the new rules that will be needed," says booklet co-author John Becker, professor of agricultural economics and law in the Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences. "'Access and Allocation of Water in Pennsylvania' should be an important tool in helping people to understand the history of water law in the state and to recognize the importance of these issues in today's environment."

The booklet was originally developed in 1997. Becker authored the 2008 update with Charles Abdalla, associate professor of agricultural and environmental economics, Kristen Saacke Blunk, extension associate in nutrient and water policy, and project assistant Joy Drohan. The publication is available on the Web at http://nutrientwaterpolicy.aers.psu.edu. Single copies can be obtained by Pennsylvania residents free of charge through county Penn State Cooperative Extension offices, or by contacting the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Distribution Center at 814-865-6713 or by e-mail at AgPubsDist@psu.edu. For cost information on out-of-state or bulk orders, contact the Publications Distribution Center.

EDITOR: Contact Kristen Saacke Blunk at 814-865-2002 or by e-mail at kls386@psu.edu.

###

Writer-Editor: Gary Abdullah gxa2@psu.edu 814-863-2708