January-February Book Club Selection: Where the Water Goes by David Owen

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If you want to understand the West, you need to understand water in the West. It’s an amazingly complex subject, one that only seems to get more complex the deeper I dig. Much of my work at Palmer Land Trust is focused on water, so I’m constantly searching for new books and resources to expand my understanding of this all-important subject.  

I’ve read many of the water classics– Cadillac Desert and Beyond the Hundredth Meridian are at the top of that list. But several veteran conservationists I know have recently recommended a different title, one that is relatively new and offers a solid overview of the water challenges specifically along the Colorado River basin. According to them, it’s short, entertaining, and easy-to-read– all characteristics rarely associated with the subject of water in the West!

So, the January-February Book Club selection is:

Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen

This is the first book club selection that I haven’t already read, so I’m excited to plow through it alongside you all.  I’ve been relatively slack about commenting over on the Goodreads page, so I’ll try my best to do better this time around. Because so much of my professional energy is devoted toward water conservation, I have lots of interesting supplemental material to share.

For a primer on some of the issues associated with the Colorado River basin, I’d suggest listening to my podcast episode with Pete McBride. He’s a wealth of knowledge when it come to water, especially the Colorado River.

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If you’d like to participate:

• Grab a copy of Where the Water Goes—purchase it from Amazon or your local bookseller, or check it out from your local library. Start reading.
• Head over to our Goodreads Group. Create an account, then join in the conversation in the online discussion forum. As you read, give your feedback on the book, pose questions to the group, and share your thoughts as you plow through the adventure.
• The only way this works is with lots of participation from lots of people, so the more the better. DON’T BE SHY!

Mountain & Prairie Book Club – Goodreads Group