November 26, 1999

Web Site Offers a Flood of Water-Resource Treaties

By BIANCA P. FLOYD

Nations and states fight over many things, but water is one issue that brings them willingly to the negotiating table, even in the most extreme circumstances. "There's never been a water war in history, and yet there are about 3,600 water-related treaties," says Aaron T. Wolf, an assistant professor of geosciences at Oregon State University who is director of the Transboundary Freshwater Dispute Database project.

Mr. Wolf's interest in water negotiations began when he studied how water