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Most rangelands users are well aware of the crucial role played by the quality and location of waterpoints in pastoral paddocks. Research over recent years has helped us to quantify this role. Today we can predict the general patterns of long term grazing distribution in most paddocks, and use these predictions both to suggest general paddock planning principles and to help plan individual paddocks. For example, we can indicate what the minimum distances ought to be between waterpoints and fencelines. The distribution patterns have implications both for the productivity of stock, and for reducing the risk of land degradation in the rangelands.