Our very survival is dependant upon access to water. Prior to the arrival of Europeans in North America Tribes and Bands used the lakes rivers and streams for transportation, for irrigation if an agricultural tribe, and located their settlements and campsites along the shores of the waterways. Once the Europeans arrived these same people were "allotted" Indian reserves, at times concomitant with associated "water records" and at times without. In dry-land areas no access to water amounted to guaranteed failure in agricultural pursuits.