Scholars have argued for the need for strong, independent mediators in interstate disputes because such mediators may be the only individuals capable of bringing states to the table and keeping them there. There are three main questions about how the mediation process for interstate water disputes will work. First, what type of mediation should states use? Second, what kinds of characteristics should such mediation have? Finally, what kind of problems might arise in water brokerage and what states and brokers can do to avoid them