Description

Book Synopsis
Where will the water come from to sustain the great desert cities of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix? This book explores the past, present, and future of water in the West. It explains why America built the dam that made Lake Powell and others like it and then allowed its citizens to become dependent on their benefits, which were temporary.

Trade Review
"A historically important, well-timed, and memorable addition to the growing library of books about water and the West." Wilson Quarterly "A solid primer on the history of use of Colorado River water and the science of climate change." Science (AAAS) "A suspense thriller, a history ... and an informed warning... Deserves to be read now, before we make even more mistakes." High Country News "A must read for Colorado River buffs, as well as anyone who wants a glimpse of what lies ahead for water." Earth Magazine

Table of Contents
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

PART ONE
RIVER OF SURPRISE

1 / The Dam Is Not Going to Break /
2 / Playing Dice with Nature /

PART TWO
RIVER OF EMPIRE

3 / Appointment in Samarra /
4 / One Simple Fact /
5 / The Reality of Empire /
6 / This Vast Plain of Opulent Soil /
7 / Lonely Lands Made Fruitful /

PART THREE
RIVER OF CONTROVERSY

8 / Natural Menace Becomes National Resource /
9 / Shall We Let Them Ruin Our National Parks? /
10 / We Want to Be Dammed /
11 / To Have a Deep Blue Lake /
12 / The Biggest Boondoggle /

PART FOUR
RIVER OF LIMITS

13 / Time Machines /
14 / A New Climatology /
15 / Rainmakers /
16 / Let People in the Future Worry about It /
17 / A Hundred Green Lagoons /

PART FIVE
RIVER OF TOMORROW

18 / River of Law /
19 / The West against Itself /

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
NOTES
INDEX

Dead Pool

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    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Sat 27 Jun 2026.

    A Hardback by James Lawrence Powell

    1 in stock

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      Publisher: University of California Press
      Publication Date: 05/01/2009
      ISBN13: 9780520254770, 978-0520254770
      ISBN10: 0520254775
      Also in:
      Drought and water supply Hydraulic engineering

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Where will the water come from to sustain the great desert cities of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix? This book explores the past, present, and future of water in the West. It explains why America built the dam that made Lake Powell and others like it and then allowed its citizens to become dependent on their benefits, which were temporary.

      Trade Review
      "A historically important, well-timed, and memorable addition to the growing library of books about water and the West." Wilson Quarterly "A solid primer on the history of use of Colorado River water and the science of climate change." Science (AAAS) "A suspense thriller, a history ... and an informed warning... Deserves to be read now, before we make even more mistakes." High Country News "A must read for Colorado River buffs, as well as anyone who wants a glimpse of what lies ahead for water." Earth Magazine

      Table of Contents
      LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

      PART ONE
      RIVER OF SURPRISE

      1 / The Dam Is Not Going to Break /
      2 / Playing Dice with Nature /

      PART TWO
      RIVER OF EMPIRE

      3 / Appointment in Samarra /
      4 / One Simple Fact /
      5 / The Reality of Empire /
      6 / This Vast Plain of Opulent Soil /
      7 / Lonely Lands Made Fruitful /

      PART THREE
      RIVER OF CONTROVERSY

      8 / Natural Menace Becomes National Resource /
      9 / Shall We Let Them Ruin Our National Parks? /
      10 / We Want to Be Dammed /
      11 / To Have a Deep Blue Lake /
      12 / The Biggest Boondoggle /

      PART FOUR
      RIVER OF LIMITS

      13 / Time Machines /
      14 / A New Climatology /
      15 / Rainmakers /
      16 / Let People in the Future Worry about It /
      17 / A Hundred Green Lagoons /

      PART FIVE
      RIVER OF TOMORROW

      18 / River of Law /
      19 / The West against Itself /

      ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
      NOTES
      INDEX

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