ted; water is considered to be a "special" commodity whose value to society cannot properly be established by market forces. Under this line of reasoning, water is more than just a commodity; it is a necessary prerequisite for the development and maintenance of a society's economy and social structure. Water law and policy in the West quickly became concerned with issues of resource use and distribution; solutions to these issues were frequently aimed at producing the socially desirable use. American water law in the West took many cues from Spanish water law, which sought to protect the public interest and place it above the claims of private parties. Consequently, water was seen as not just a market resource but as a social good and vital necessity in arid regions; it was considered too important to be evaluated exclusively in terms of economic welfare (Brajer & Martin, 1990, pp. 37-38).
The development of water law in the West did not follow the pattern of the East. In the East, the doctrine of riparian rights was impor
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