In the next session, lawmakers will weigh in on several bills that state officials have said are necessary to “modernize” Nevada water law. But what does that really mean? And why are people across the state always fighting over water rights?

Reporter Daniel Rothberg breaks down the complicated legal structure that governs water law in Nevada and throughout the West. He explains why water law is so fraught with difficulty and why so many water policy decisions end up in court. The video also peeks into the future, looking at how changing temperatures may further stress the water supply.