First Post - Cadillac Desert ... the beginning

More than 20 years ago, I read Marc Reisner's book Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water.  I had no idea when I sat down to read Reisner's account of the mismanagement of the groundwater and surface water resources of the States west of the Mississippi River, especially in the high desert regions of the North American continent, that my perspective on how Americans (especially agencies of the U.S. Government) use/abuse water would evolve to something that is now diametrically opposed to the views I held when I was a much younger geologist.

In the years since I read Cadillac Desert, I have worked extensively on water resource problems in all regions of Texas and in other states of the west/southwest, and in many southeastern States (especially, Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina). What I have seen has convinced me that the average American has no clue where water originates that pours from his faucets, fills his bath tub, irrigates his lawn, flushes the toilets in his house, fills his swimming pool, or spouts from mega-fountains in gaudy desert resorts such as Las Vegas, Nevada. More disturbing has been the realization that many State governments and especially the National (Federal) Government deal myopically with important intrastate, interstate, regional, interregional, and international matters regarding the access to and use of water resources.

As long as water flows when Americans want/need it, then all is well. Most people, however, are not prepared to live in a world that cannot deliver water (especially potable water) on demand. If something were to disrupt the ability to produce, treat and deliver water at any scale, then life for Americans affected by the disruption would change remarkably ... that is, much for the worse. It is my objective to use this blog as a forum to address the broad range of issues related to the management and use of water in the United States ... and in many other Nations around the world. I hope not to provoke arguments, but thoughtful discussion of matters that ought to be of great concern to people everywhere.

Best Regards,

aquadoc