An evocative and bold take on a river and what winning the west really means, watermans book epitomizes the best of environmental writing. David owen, with utmost elegance and wry wit, examines the river from headwaters to terminus and all the stops along the way. A journey from source to sea down the colorado river national geographic books, 2010 and five television documentaries. Colorado river runs bond 2020 all you need to know before. Climate change is sucking the colorado river dry grist. The colorado river is dying the victim of legally sanctioned overuse, the relentless forces of urban growth, willful ignorance among policymakers and a misplaced confidence in human ingenuity. A detailed reconstruction of riverine changes in the vicinity of tucson, ariz. Month january february march april may june july august september october november december day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26. So naturally, there have been a couple of great river books over the years. May 24, 2017 the colorado river and its unnatural world. In this yale environment 360 video, he follows the natural course of the colorado by raft, on foot, and overhead in a small plane, telling the story of a river whose water is siphoned off at every. Quoting those who have traveled its depths before, such as john wesley powell and wallace stegner, he writes not only about the rivers nowdying power but also the. The beginnings of the mighty colorado river on the west slope of rocky mountain national park are humble.
Let colorado river runs guide you to the best of colorados rivers. In 2010 national geographic published his book running dry. The recognition for his work includes magazine and book awards, a literary fellowship. As colorado river dries up, the west feels the pain. What this is, is a beautifully and passionately written book about the plight of the colorado river. May 20, 2016 the colorado river seen here from page, ariz. Es44ac 4400hp 3,300 kw 183,000 lbf starting tractive effort last loco. Running dry, a journey from source to sea down the colorado river. Photographer peter mcbride traveled along the colorado river from its source high in the rocky mountains to its historic mouth at the sea of cortez. A photographer and author teamed up to capture the geographical, environmental, and historical journey of the colorado river in their photoessay book, the colorado river. Jonathan waterman author, climber interview running dry. It is paradoxical that the colorado stopped running consistently through the delta at the end of. The colorado river and its unnatural world the new york. The 1,450milelong 2,330 km river drains an expansive, arid watershed that encompasses parts of seven u.
In this yale environment 360 video, he follows the natural course of the colorado by raft, on foot, and overhead in a small plane, telling the story of a river whose water is siphoned off at every turn, leaving it high and dry 80 miles from the sea. The colorado river is one of the principal rivers along with the rio grande in the southwestern united states and northern mexico. In the video, mcbride, a colorado native, documents how increasing water demands have transformed the river that is the lifeblood for an arid southwest. In the past nine years, the basin which covers wyoming, colorado, utah, new mexico, nevada, arizona and california has lost about 65 cubic kilometers of fresh water, nearly double the. Let colorado river runs guide you to the best of colorado s rivers. Radium is a fun road trip along the colorado headwaters scenic byway from vail, beaver creek, steamboat springs, winter park and breckenridge.
For thousands of years, the santa cruz river has been a focal point in southern arizona. Jul 25, 2014 narrated by robert redford, renewal captures the breathtaking and historic surge of water that was released into the colorado river in the spring of 2014. The river has been running especially low for the past decade, as drought has gripped the southwest. Duckies colorado river only the two man inflatable kayaks known as duckies are available on our colorado river trips. In 1869, john wesley powell led a small party down the green and colorado rivers in a bold attempt to explore the grand canyon for the. Feb 15, 2012 the rivers demise began with the 1922 colorado river compact, a deal by seven western states to divide up its water. Known for its dramatic canyons, whitewater rapids, and eleven u. The colorado river runs dry science smithsonian magazine. A journey from source to sea down the colorado river. A little water restores sliver of nature in mexican delta. Colorado river runs bond 2020 all you need to know.
Requiem rapid, as he thought it to be the spot where the glen and bessie hyde party. Narrated by robert redford, renewal captures the breathtaking and historic surge of water that was released into the colorado river in the spring of 2014. New book tackles colorado river challenges a new book from veteran writer david owen explores the complexities of water issues in the colorado river basin, including obligations to mexico, energy production, agriculture and other economic and social drivers. The water under colorados eastern plains is running dry as farmers keep irrigating great american desert farmers say theyre trying to wean from groundwater, but admit there are no easy. Jun 26, 2012 as colorado river dries up, the west feels the pain the mighty colorado provides water to much of the west and irrigates millions of acres of farmland. The rivers demise began with the 1922 colorado river compact, a deal by seven western states to divide up its water. A natural and human history of the colorado is both a requiem for a river lost and a tale of a river rebounding. After entering mexico, the colorado approaches the mostly dry colorado river delta at the tip of the gulf of california between baja california and sonora. A river runners map and guide to its natural and human history, by larry stevens, is designed for running the river, for scribbling notes about rapids, camps or unexpected sightings and events, and to help inform or remind us of the vast temporal and spatial. This months seminar is based on an important new book, requiem for the santa cruz. Whitewater rafting trips are available on the colorado river and eagle river.
Nearly a century ago, the waters of the colorado river flowed freely through the mexican border town known as san luis rio colorado, a place where you could catch a steamboat that would take you upstream as far as yuma, ariz. While falling water tables are largely hidden, rivers that are drained dry before they reach the sea are highly visible. As colorado river dries up, the west feels the pain the mighty colorado provides water to much of the west and irrigates millions of acres. Jul 24, 2009 50% chance colorado river reservoirs will run dry by 2057 under current scenario zachary shahan july 24, 2009 a new study finds that there is a 5050 chance all of the colorado river reservoirs in california, arizona, nevada, utah, and arizona will run completely dry by the year 2057 if currents trends and practices continue. The picture show after traveling the entire colorado river, photographer peter mcbride was surprised by how his journey ended. A journey from source to sea down the colorado river, is in stores now. Waterman, whose earlier books illuminate the arctic, strikes an impressive balance between the personal and the political in chronicling his journey down the colorado river. Fun, safe and affordable rafting trips available may through september. The emerald mile provides a holistic look at river running in the american southwest, all while following the palmsweating story of the fastestrun trip down the grand canyon. Raft the colorado river with colorado river runs call. Please join interiors office of policy analysis on march 9 for their monthly speaker series. The water crisis in the west has renewed debate about the effectiveness of major dams, with some pushing for the enormous glen canyon dam on the colorado river to be decommissioned. It is an impassioned and eloquent call to action that hopefully we will heed. Part travelogue, part warning shot across the bow, jonathan waterman in his latest book takes us on a sobering journey down the colorado river from source to the sea of cortez that should scare the wits out of those in the southwest and convince them to read the dusty writing on the wall.
Lake powell, on the border of arizona and utah, was created by the construction of glen canyon dam along the colorado river. Fabulously fun family floats on the colorado river and wickedly wild whitewater on the eagle river since 1973. Eventually, mexico was allotted just 10 percent of the flow. This gorgeous new book is a compelling and fascinating read about the colorado river, a crucial water source for a surprisingly large portion of the united states. Raw locomotive thrash, 12,000 tons on a 2% grade, all emd.
National parks, the colorado river and its tributaries are a vital source of water for 40 million people. Raft the colorado river with colorado river runs call 800. Another travel book that you might enjoy is running dry. Head out on a colorado river trip with colorado river runs. The photographer and the author traveled the entire length of the colorado rivers 1450 miles by a mixture of air, boat, and foot to truly understand and this could be a stunning coffee table book, but its not.
Opinion where the colorado river runs dry the new york. Jan 01, 2010 another travel book that you might enjoy is running dry. The water under colorados eastern plains is running dry. Life and death along the colorado river, owen takes readers on a backroads journey through the many issues. A journey from source to sea down the colorado river quantity. For more information on the colorado river, watch amhq with sam champion 7. The water under colorado s eastern plains is running dry as farmers keep irrigating great american desert farmers say theyre trying to wean from groundwater, but admit there are no easy. The colorado rivers unexpected carbon footprint high. The big dry how nearly a decade and a half of drought is. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. Running dry offers a valuable picture of an amazing and vital waterway in crisis. The colorado river rafting trip is recommenede for beginners and families with children, offering deep canyon and. The recognition for his work includes magazine and book awards, a literary fellowship from the national endowment for the arts, and an emmy. It is paradoxical that the colorado stopped running consistently through the delta at the end of the 20th century, which according to treering records was one of the basins wettest centuries in.
Starting in the central rocky mountains of colorado, the river flows generally southwest across the colorado plateau and. He is also the coauthor, with pete mcbride, of the colorado river. Sd70ace 4500hp 3,400 kw 191,000 lbf starting tractive effort 850 kn first rear loco. Peter mcbride, a photographer from colorado, visually documented his aerial expedition along 1,450 miles of the colorado river, from its headwaters toward its delta. Two rivers where this phenomenon can be seen are the colorado, the major river in the southwestern united states, and the yellow, the largest river in northern china. Jul 03, 20 a photographer and author teamed up to capture the geographical, environmental, and historical journey of the colorado river in their photoessay book, the colorado river. Webb will discuss his recently published book, requiem for the santa cruz. An environmental history of an arizona river university of arizona press, 2014, authored by four doi scientists who spent their entire careers studying southwestern landscapes.
A journey from source to sea down the dying colorado river by jonathan waterman. Where the colorado river runs dry the new york times. The author also scales a,000 mountain on foot to show how melt water rapidly descends almost 4,000 feet from the peak to become part of the river system and into the colorado itself. Rivers lend themselves to stories, and stories lend themselves to books. Climate change is expected to further reduce the rivers flow by 10 to 30 percent by 2050.
Our rivers are carefully chosen for fun and accessibility. Part fascinating travelogue of a trip down the river and part eyeopening environmental manifesto this is sure to engage you on some level. The colorado rivers unexpected carbon footprint flooding a dry riverbed restored vegetation, but released significant amounts of methane and carbon dioxide. Running dry, a journey from source to sea down the. I expected the book to be a simple recounting of a paddle down the colorado river and instead im getting a fascinating history lesson on western states water law. The mighty colorado river no longer reaches the sea. The duckies are guided by our guests, with the rafts nearby to ensure safety. Jons research expedition for this book traverses the entire length of the colorado river from its origins in the rockies to the sea. With the deadline looming for the leaders of the world to come to an agreement on fighting climate change, msnbc correspondent jacob soboroff provides a. The colorado river and its unnatural world the new york times. In this interview, jon waterman discusses his book running dry. Coverage of the colorado rivers problems is often boiled down to water levels in lake mead, but a new book from veteran author david owen traces the complexities of the rivers many competing demands from its headwaters to its terminus in mexico in where the water goes. Established in 1973, we are the only locally owned outfitter on the upper reaches of the colorado river. The water under colorados eastern plains is running dry as.