The Colorado River: Flowing Through Conflict Paperback – November 15, 2010

If you are interested in water issues in the Southwest, this book is for you. The Colorado River has become a perfect symbol of what happens when we ask too much of a limited resource: it disappears. In fact, the Colorado no longer regularly reaches the sea. Dams, irrigation and now climate change have drastically reduced the once-mighty river. Is it a sign of more things to come? The authors take us on a trip down the Colorado River, from the mountains through the resevoirs and into the basins. Approximately 30 million people rely on it's water which flows through 14 coal/gas plants & 107 hydroelectric turbines. Many of our friends browse this 9 x 12 coffee table book because it has has gorgeous pictures on every page and awesome aerial photography (I'd buy it for the many crossover aerial photos alone). Coupled with a few helpful maps, the commentary about water issues facing the Southwest will help you understand why you hear of so much more news about "droughts" and mandated water conservation programs.

For the concept and the execution (two authors working together, one on the ground and one taking pictures by air), I think it's quite lovely to look at. It's a good coffee table book.The problem is that people tend to flip through coffee table books for pretty pictures and then be done with it-- I actually brought this book to some people I know who I thought would be interested, and the comments were pretty much in the range of "oh, these pictures are disturbing and I don't want to look anymore."So basically if you're really interested in the subject, it's probably not going to be as substantive as you're hoping for, and the pictures aren't going to draw people in the way the authors hoped. But for people looking for a wide breadth of knowledge on the subject, it's a good addition to your collection.

The Colorado River is the defining watershed of the great U.S. Southwest, and the story of what we have done with it is fascinating. McBride's photographs are so wonderful, and so descriptive of the power and beauty of this river, and the degradation is has suffered at our hands.

I bought as a gift for my son's b'day. He doesn'thave time to do that.We'll both enjoy it...as time permits. As always, Amazoncomes thru...w/ both a good price ...& good service.Tks.J. Linn. CO

Peter McBride's photographic talents shine throughout this book. Johnathan Waterman obvioiously experienced the length of the Colorado River with descriptions that are alluring and thought provoking. This is a great book for anyone interested in water and especially scarce western water.

Colorado is so beautiful and diverse, and this book really brings it out. It's relaxing, and informative - I'll be visiting a few of the areas this summer.

great deal

If you own a copy of Reisner's  Cadillac Desert  you'll want this too. Peter McBride's photo opus on the Colorado is the first I've seen that tracks the river from the high mountain headwaters all the way down to the sea. McBride's artistry is stunning, and the collection is well edited. Just as impressive is his command of the myriad issues that that make the Colorado River the most loved and litigated in the United States. In both the modest text and the images themselves, McBride and co-author Waterman demonstrate their mastery and love of the subject.Last year Verlyn Klinkenborg wrote in the New York Times "if we're not nostalgic for water now - in all its forms - soon we will be. We're entering a climatically uncertain world, so perhaps now is the time to visit water, before it is piped, tubed, desalinated, and geothermalized everywhere...Go now." The threats are very real, and many people are working hard to save the Colorado River before it's too late. Even if you can't make a visit soon, you can get your fill in this book.

Superbe livre sur le Colorado,de tres belles photos aeriennes et des petites cartes pour bien se situer.Le fleuve Colorado apporte la vie aux hommes,à la faune et à la flore,à travers cet ouvrage on s aperçoit que bien des etats en ont besoin et qu il est temps de lui redonner sa liberté...