Where the Water Goes summary

The Beginning: The Colorado River

In Where the Water Goes, David Owen takes us on a fascinating journey along the Colorado River. The river, he explains, is a lifeline across the southwestern United States, traversing through seven states and two countries. The Colorado is responsible for supplying water to over 40 million people and irrigating approximately 5.5 million acres of land.

Notably, the river demonstrates how human intervention has altered the natural course of this once wild waterway to cater to urban, agricultural, and environmental needs. Owen highlights the Hoover Dam, one of the most dramatic illustrations of our manipulation of the Colorado, turning a section of the river into a massive reservoir named Lake Mead.

The Middle: Water Politics and Distribution

As we continue downstream, Owen uncovers the complex system governing the distribution of the Colorado River's water. He details the historic Colorado River Compact of 1922: an agreement among seven states that apportioned the river's flow based on unfounded and overly optimistic estimates. With the realization that the river cannot support everyone's needs, conflicts between states, between urban and agricultural users, and between humans and the environment have become increasingly rife.

The author also discusses the significant environmental impacts of our utilization of the river’s resources. Once a mighty watercourse, the Colorado River today rarely reaches the sea, with its final stretches becoming bone-dry. The river's delta, once a lush wetland, is now a desolate desert, and Lake Mead's water level steadily drops due to over-usage and climate change impacts.

The End: The Future of Colorado River

Approaching the concluding part of Where the Water Goes, Owen offers insightful perspectives on the future of the Colorado River. He suggests that the solution doesn’t lie in finding new sources of water, but in managing the demand. He urges for mindful water conservation, more effective agriculture irrigation methods, and sensible urban water management policies.

Owen also stresses the importance of understanding the inherent value of rivers beyond their utilitarian functions. Rivers are ecological treasures that support diverse species of wildlife and contribute to the health of our planet. He underscores the need for us to respect the limits of our rivers and to strive to use their waters in a sustainable way.

Concluding Thoughts

In the final analysis, Where the Water Goes is more than just a journey along a river. It serves as a stark reminder of our complicated relationship with water and the consequences of treating this precious resource as an unlimited commodity. Owen leaves us with valuable insights into understanding and addressing the critical water challenges of our time.

We are provoked to reconsider our water uses, policies, and practices. Even the choices we make daily—what food we eat, what products we buy, the energy we consume all involve water in some way. The narrative of the Colorado River urges us to be mindful of these choices, and in doing so, keep the river's story flowing.