Cadillac Desert:
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Chapter 1: A Country of IllusionIn this chapter, Reisner describes the exploration of what is now the western United States by Spaniard Francisco Vasquez de Coronado in his search for gold. He then moves on to the exploration by white men during the Powell expedition of 1869. He states that explorers found the land without any vegetables/vegetation and called it the Great American Desert. After discussing the land, Reisner talks about the Homestead Act of 1862 and the effects it had in granting people access and ownership of the land.
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Chapter 2: The Red QueenIn Chapter 2, describes the early settlement in southern California and the water issues that the settlers faced. In doing so, he also covers the famous water story of Los Angeles' manipulation and theft of the water supply. He discusses how L.A basically stole the Owens River, inevitably resulting in the decline of the Owens Valley. He also describes the development of the 1913 Los Angeles Aqueduct and the after effects. He includes issues about water between cities and farms and also the tragic deaths that accompanied the collapse of the Saint Francis Dam. He also comments on the incredibly fast population growth of the city and how there is never enough water for its people and the land.
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Chapter 3: First CausesChapter 3 mainly revolves around the the federal irrigation systems caused by weather events in the 1880's. Reisner describes the post-Depression era in which the people of the west divulged themselves into building dams. This period resulted in the construction of more than 250,000 dams; it is during the development of these dams that the federal government became actively and prominently involved. The role the government had in this time was necessary in that the projects conducted exceeded the power and means of smaller governments. He also touches on the Reclamation Act of 1902 and its many impacts on the people and the environment.
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Chapter 4: An American Nile 1In this chapter, Reisner describes the transformation of the Colorado River basin. He discusses the erosion and siltation and the early water diversions into southern California. He also points out the contrasting political views of the developments during the time. Reisner includes details concerning the issues between farmers getting water for free to grow crops that farmers in the east are paid not to grow. This was seen as a major distortion in U.S economics and was viewed as a direct result of government involvement. This chapter also discusses the construction of the Hoover Dam and the failures and successes of water diversions (such as the 1905 Salton Sea diversion). Another important detail in this chapter is the high costs of agriculture and irrigation in California and the political growth of Congress in the Western U.S.
Still, sometimes bad economics makes for good politics, and so the entire West lined up behind the Colorado River Storage Project of 1956. |
Chapter 5: The Go-Go YearsIn Chapter 5, Reisner informs his audience of the "go-go years" of FDR's administration. He goes into detail on the environmental damage of the West and the corruption of national politics. He talks about the 1929 Great Crash, the Dirty Thirties, the concept and views of pyramid-economics which unveiled some truth about the corruption of politics and the federal dam building program (Hoover, Shasta, Bonneville, Grand Coulee, etc.). It also touches on the second World War and the Bureau of Reclamation.
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Chapter 6: Rivals in CrimeIn chapter 6, Reisner acknowledges how the main exports of the U.S are crops and food and this is mainly due to the development of many waterways. He also states that many people at the time strongly believed that in order to grow as a country, they needed to develop much more for hydroelectric power and irrigation for farmers. This resulted in the Corp
of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, competing for water projects. Reisner described the conflicts between the two powerful organizations in their quest for water projects that would supposedly improve the United States and make it a greater country. However, due to the rivalry between the two, many unnecessary and useless dams were built, which affected both the environment and the economy of the United States. The Corp of Engineers wanted to build the Rampart Dam, which was not only unnecessary, but also would have created the largest reservoir in the entire world and create a massive ecological disaster. The Bureau, however, wanted to build the Devil's Canyon Dam, preventing the construction of the Rampart Dam. Overall, the Corp of Engineers and the Bureau on Reclamation fought over many pointless water projects, all the while wasting taxpayer dollars. |
Chapter 7: DominyThis chapter describes a man named Floyd Dominy, who was born in Hastings Nebraska and had a disliking for money. He studied economics and played a major role in the construction of approximately 300 dams during the Great Drought. He then got employed in the Bureau of Reclamation and soon became commissioner of the Bureau. The Bureau was placed under the orders of the president, meaning that they had to follow hi orders but with Dominy in power, no one could control the actions of the Bureau. This was mainly due to Dominy's socializing with eastern congressmen which allowed the Bureau the power to do what it wanted. Dominy didn't use his power to move the U.S in the right direction for economic and
environmental benefits. In fact he mainly disregarded conservation movements unless conflicts arised with them. This continued on until Prsident Nixon was finally able to fire him from his position in an attempt to put the bureau back in order. |
Chapter 8: The American Nile 2In chapter 8, Reisner talks about the water development in Arizona. First he gives some history of the Hohokam Indians that built great cities and complex irrigation systems but suddenly disappeared. He then discussed California's plan to obtain Arizona's water and how they they prevented Arizona's construction of an aqueduct until they resolved the Gila River conflict. With an increasing population due to immigration, the leaders in Arizona worried whether there would be enough water to provide for them influx of people. For the time being they used groundwater to support the people but that was a finite source so the United Western Investigation got involved to solve the problem. The plan of the organization was to direct water from northern California (ideally from the Kalanath River) through dams and tunnels. The plan was never done because Californians wouldn't allow it to be buil since they saw it as a replacement for the water from Arizona and they still had plans for the Colorado River and Glen Canyon Dams. SOme people such as Brower and others in the Sierra Club fought against the Bureau and their attempts to develop more dams that would harm the environment. Reisner also went over the Central Arizona Project and the possible bankruptcy it might cause for farmers.
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Chapter 9: The Peanut Farmer and The Pork BarrelChapter 9 focuses on the building of dams and the prevention of more dams. In the time that a surplus of dams were being built and have been built, Jimmy Carter had a different view. He realized that the high amount of dams would be a problem for future generations and saw water projects as congress rapidly spending their money. Carter wanted to stop this and put an end to funding of the unnecessary water projects. Carter saw the potential problems that the continuation of water project could bring to U.S and remained firm in his beliefs despite the many attempts to change his mind. Carter tried to stop many water projects however his attempts were surpassed by bills and congress and was put side when Reagan started his presidency.
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Chapter 10: ChinatownChapter 10 describes the misconception that California is a "lush" land filled with beaches and greens when in reality California is mainly a semi-desert. Reisner also goes over the 1960 State Water Project and its effects on the economy and ecology of the United States. Another detail discussed in this chapter is the Central Valley Project and the Bureau. Reisner also discusses the California Aqueduct, politics and the State Court, family and corporate farms, and low cost water and the issues that came with them due to the water projects and irrigation.
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Chapter 11: Those Refuse to LearnIn chapter 11, Reisner takes on a negative yet realistic view of what might happen to our environment if we continue to construct dams and fund many unnecessary water projects. He illustrates a possible disaster with the collapse of a dam to show people the dangers of one crumbling to the ground. He uses the Teton's collapse (which killed about 11 people) and exaggerates the results as a scare tactic to invoke a realization in people about the condition of the environment and what these water projects have done. He places an emphasis on the negative impacts of water projects and the many possible consequences they might have in the future.
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Chapter 12: Things Fall ApartIn this chapter, Reisner discusses the over-consumption of the Ogallala Aquifier for irrigation and the plan to move water from Louisiana to Texas. Reisner also talks about the salinization of the soil due to intensive irrigation in unsuitable terrain. He states that while irrigation may be a reason in the rise of many
civilizations, then it might also be a reason for the fall of them. He also reveals the truth pf how much salt has been built up in the western soil as time has passed and claims that this is a threat to life. |
Epilogue: A Civilization, If You Can Keep ItIn the epilogue, Reisner questions whether the federal Reclamation program saved the western land or endangered it. He also discusses the effects of cheap subsidized water on the users and their practices. Reisner also includes information about the Hudson Bay rivers and the North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWPA).
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Afterword to the Revised EditionIn his afterword, Reisner describes the fate of California's agriculture and how its related, entwined even, with the fate of salmon for water. He discusses some more environmental issues and how they have an effect on water decisions. He also claims that federal dollars are hard to find and that many issues have changed over time.
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