Where the Water Goes

February 27, 2017
The Colorado River, the main water source of America’s desert Southwest, flows sorely vexed to the sea—almost—in this revealing investigation of hydroecology in extremis. New Yorker contributor Owen (The Conundrum) follows the Colorado from its Rocky Mountain headwaters to the point where it trickles out in the Mexican desert, well short of its historical outlet to the sea, visiting the massive infrastructures—the mighty Hoover Dam, giant pipes, pumping stations, canals, and humble sprinklers—that divert its waters for millions of uses. Along the way he encounters people whose lives entwine with the river, including lawyers wrangling endlessly over arbitrary apportionment rules—existing allotments grant various users more water than actually flows in the river—and utility planners trying to stretch the flow among a growing population, as well as ordinary farmers, boaters, and the quirky subculture of transient RV camps on its banks. Through his reportage, Owen teases out the contradictions of the complex issues surrounding the Colorado: water conservation efforts, he finds, can do more harm than good because allegedly “wasted” water often returns to replenish the river and aquifers. Rather than simply bemoan environmental degradation, Owen presents a deeper, more useful analysis of the subtle interplay between natural and human needs. Agent: David McCormick, McCormick Literary.

February 15, 2017
Travels along the endangered Colorado River and its tributaries reveal the challenges of providing water to 36 million people throughout the West.New Yorker staff writer Owen (The Conundrum: How Scientific Innovation, Increased Efficiency, and Good Intentions Can Make Our Energy and Climate Problems Worse, 2012, etc.) elaborates on the critique he presented in his previous book, this time focusing on one crucial natural resource: water. Devising a sustainable water policy, he argues convincingly, is complicated and sometimes counterintuitive. "Many of the technological wonders that we think of as solutions to our gathering environmental problems actually exacerbate other environmental problems," he asserts. Wind turbines, electric car batteries, and computer chips, for example, depend on the extraction of rare elements from places "where labor and land are cheap, and where regulatory oversight is minimal." This extraction damages land, ecosystems, rivers, and, not least, miners' lives. Foremost among the many problems inherent in water use from the Colorado is salt. Because salt does not settle out the way silt does, it remains in recycled water, making that water unsuitable for drinking and agriculture. In high enough concentrations, plants cannot grow in topsoil saturated with salt: the salt flats of Utah stand as an example. If lawns and golf courses use salt-laden water, they can add tons of salt to every acre of soil. Following the river's winding route, Owen interviewed environmental experts, farmers, RV drivers, and politicians, investigating water policy, laws, and conservation strategies. In California, he visited the agricultural Imperial Valley, irrigated by "a valley-sized plumbing system," and the Salton Sea, "created by an act of engineering imbecility" that involved diverting the Colorado River. The largest lake in California is now desolate, saltier than the Pacific Ocean and unable to sustain the fish and birds that once thrived in it. The author chides off-the-grid environmentalists who are willfully blind to the energies they use to sustain their lives and makes a case for city life as environmentally responsible. As Owen amply proves, "water issues are never only about water."

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March 1, 2017
Although considerably shorter than the nation's longest river, the Missouri, and much narrower in most spots than the mighty Mississippi, the Colorado River nonetheless rivals the other two in the number of states it crosses and the amount of people served by its circuitously flowing waters. Often referred to as the American Nile for its multiple uses and the indelible marks it has carved into the southwestern landscape, including the Grand Canyon, the Colorado River captivated New Yorker staff writer Owen (The Conundrum, 2012) enough over the years to inspire this eloquent survey of the waterway's geography and its many impacts on nearby life. Interweaving descriptions from his own explorations of the river on the ground and in the air, Owen offers a wealth of engrossing and often surprising details about the complicated nature of water rights, recreational usage (worth $26 billion a year), and depletion threats from climate change and the fracking industry. With water shortages looming across the globe, Owen's work provides invaluable lessons on the rewards and pitfalls involved in managing an essential natural resource.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

November 1, 2016

The Colorado River supplies water to 36 million people and six million acres of farmland, and its historically lush delta wetlands are now desert. Water issues in the American West are thus complicated, as they're deeply bound up with a human environment. From New Yorker staff writer Owen (Green Metropolis).

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2017

New Yorker staff writer Owen (The Conundrum; Green Metropolis) tackles the twisted history of the Colorado River. Water rights drafted in the gold rush era and formalized on miscalculations in the early 20th century are still controversial today. Farmers, businesses, cities, states, and Mexico clash over a water supply constantly decreasing as a result of changes in weather and population. The author includes the exploration and development history of the waterway and biographies of legendary figures such as John Wesley Powell, who led a three-month expedition down the Green and Colorado rivers, and riverboat pilot Nellie Bush. Owen travels the length of the Colorado from the headwaters to the delta (now dry) by plane, by car, and on foot, talking to stakeholders about their issues. This purposefully rambling narrative frames the discussion of water as a vital continental concern. VERDICT An essential read for not only the environmentally minded but also all citizens who are curious about where their water comes from. Highly recommended for public, school, and academic libraries. [Prepub Alert, 10/10/15.]--Catherine Lantz, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Lib.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from February 15, 2017

New Yorker staff writer Owen (The Conundrum; Green Metropolis) tackles the twisted history of the Colorado River. Water rights drafted in the gold rush era and formalized on miscalculations in the early 20th century are still controversial today. Farmers, businesses, cities, states, and Mexico clash over a water supply constantly decreasing as a result of changes in weather and population. The author includes the exploration and development history of the waterway and biographies of legendary figures such as John Wesley Powell, who led a three-month expedition down the Green and Colorado rivers, and riverboat pilot Nellie Bush. Owen travels the length of the Colorado from the headwaters to the delta (now dry) by plane, by car, and on foot, talking to stakeholders about their issues. This purposefully rambling narrative frames the discussion of water as a vital continental concern. VERDICT An essential read for not only the environmentally minded but also all citizens who are curious about where their water comes from. Highly recommended for public, school, and academic libraries. [Prepub Alert, 10/10/15.]--Catherine Lantz, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Lib.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.