Forward by M. Gordon Wolman

The material covered includes expected chapters on basic aspects of the hydrologic cycle such as rainfall, runoff and evapotranspiration. There is at the same time, extensive coverage of stream processes, soil erosion and sedimentation, and human impacts on the hydrologic cycle.

Throughout, the authors have chosen to emphasize the practical rather than the theoretical aspects of hydrology. Many texts do this in hydrology, perhaps too many, but in this book that orientation is enhanced with a content and style that evidence their commitment to what the authors call a "student-centered" view. Many, if not most of us, in the academic world profess this centered vision but quickly lodge our teaching on the periphery. Not so here.

Chapters devoted to the application of remote sensing and geographic systems to hydrology and to conducting and reporting hydrologic studies nicely capture the practical flavor. At the same time, a focus on the practical leads not only to the inclusion of many approaches to solving specific problems but also to the inclusion in text and appendices of the vital statistics of hydrology, thus the attribute of a modest handbook.

I hope any student will enjoy, just not profit from the careful advice given to those involved in their first observations of rivers in the field. For example, the authors "stoop" to telling the student reader how many persons should be engaged in carrying out a task; perfectly laughable unless you have nearly drowned by failing to do the obvious, or finished a day's fieldwork and notes by lantern in the dark.

And, perhaps most engaging to me, in places the authors offer personal views as well as more strongly worded opinions. The former often relate to evaluation of alternative approaches, or formulations, or specific solutions to specific hydrologic problems. One or the other of the authors, not the anonymous royal we, states his choice based on his own experience. More rarely, it is noted that contrary to the notoriety of some hydrologic findings, the findings are grossly in error and the resulting policies foolish and misdirected.

This thick book is a labor of love. No doubt it contains error of commission and perhaps even omission. One hopes that students, as they struggle with the material in the text will warm both to what inspires the authors and through that to the subject--hydrology.