A new thematic map depicting primary water rights systems across the U.S. has been developed by a collaborative team from the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute, the National Drought Mitigation Center and the Department of Agricultural Economics, all at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. The innovative tool provides a clearer understanding of the variability of surface water and groundwater rights systems, which are crucial for effective water management and policy development by researchers, policymakers and landowners alike.