[[the density of the rest of the country has made it necessary to resort to government to protect water rights,]]
“Densely populated”? Do you realize you can fit the whole WORLD’S population in just one state? Texas? This country is NOT ‘densely populated” Not by a long shot- There are TINY spots throughout the country where the population is dense- however, 90+% of the country is open country- nooen living there- free and clear of humans-
Do you suppose there is a reason why they live where they do and not in the wastes of Wyoming?