American Scientist

DOWNRIVER: Into the Future of Water in the West. Heather Hansman. 221 pp. University of Chicago Press, 2019. $25.

The Colorado River is often described as the “lifeblood” of the American Southwest: It provides water to nearly 40 million people, irrigates more than 2.2 million hectares of agricultural land, flows through 7 national wildlife refuges, 4 national recreation areas, and 11 national parks, and is critically important to 22 tribal communities. Despite the Colorado River’s significance, however, most people don’t fully understand its complexities, and few know anything at all about its largest tributary, the Green River.

Journalist Heather Hansman aims to fill that gap in Downriver: Into the Future of Water in the West. The book is an account of a trip Hansman took in the summer of 2016, when she paddled the full 1,175-kilometer length of the Green River in an inflatable pack raft, traveling from its headwaters in Wyoming to its confluence with the Colorado River in southern Utah (see map above). Hansman is concerned about the future of the river, which is faced with fundamental imbalances in water supply and demand. She has undertaken this journey with the hope of reaching a greater understanding of how the river is being used. So along the way, she takes a number of side trips to discuss the Green River’s impact with people from all walks of life. For example, she visits the irrigation ditches of a cattle ranch in Wyoming, which is owned by someone who serves on the Upper Colorado River Commission as an alternate commissioner. Hansman uses the occasion to delve into the legal aspects of water rights as set out in the Colorado River Compact, explaining that she views it as “a broken system” (it doesn’t match the current economy, and there are built-in incentives for those who hold water rights to use as much water as they’re allowed). In this way she weaves wonky water policy into the descriptive adventure story of her time on the river.

Hansman’s narrative succeeds, where other such accounts have not, in large part because she is transparent about her motivations, her preconceived notions, and the knowledge she gains from her epic journey. She has come to learn, not to lecture, and the reader learns alongside her. Near the end of the book, she reflects on the fact that she has made this journey largely by herself: “I’d had this idea,” she writes, “that being able to do things alone was a sign of strength, not fear. I’d thought I could conquer the landscape and fully understand the problem of water use.” But through her interactions along the way with the river’s stakeholders, she has come to realize that “none of that is true. The tough part is connection, looking across lines and knowing when to push the lever on what you think is right.” Here she’s referring to the importance of being able to connect with other people and see things from their vantage point, while recognizing the ways in which all of the stakeholders and the river are interconnected.

That emphasis on connection makes Downriver a most welcome contribution to the discussion that is under way today of Colorado River Basin policies and the need to modify them. There is a growing recognition that the West’s water supplies are being stretched to a breaking point. The ability of the river’s stakeholders, users, and decision makers to cooperate and collaborate is being tested by their concerns about the effects of climate change on a river whose water is already overallocated. Some agreements have been reached (for example, the Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plans). I worry, however, that people may be losing sight of the need for connection that Hansman recognizes, and that that may be contributing to the lack of agreement over such issues as how to respond to the accelerating decline of the Salton Sea in California.

Hansman reminds us of why connection is important by making connections herself—with farmers and ranchers who have been flood-irrigating alfalfa fields for decades; and with oil and gas operators, fellow recreationists, people in cities who are in charge of the municipal water supply, dam and reservoir operators, and fish biologists, most of whom are just trying to manage as best they can within the current system. Hansman’s conversations go beyond the superficial, giving us an honest glimpse into the values and beliefs of this diverse group of people. She shows us not just how they use the Green River, but why they use the river and what the river means to them. As Colorado River Basin governance continues to adapt and change, we could all benefit from taking her approach—by being open-minded and willing to actually listen to other people’s values and priorities. The conservation community has long held that river stakeholders should do so, as Hansman notes; others who care about the river basin should also embrace her approach.

Mexican officials who have negotiated Colorado River issues with the United States have told me that their ethos at the decision-making table is as follows: Rather than just paying lip service to other people’s opinions, they actually take the time to truly understand the values and viewpoints of others. Only then, they say, can participants have good faith negotiations that result in compromise. Hansman extends this idea beyond the decision-making table to include all people who are affected by and rely on the Green River. She argues compellingly that water is complicated, that it means different things to different people, and that when people disagree about water policy, their differing perspectives and opinions all have validity.

Another strength of Downriver is Hansman’s ability to make complex and historically fraught water issues understandable. It can take years of engagement to fully comprehend many of the topics she discusses, such as tribal water rights. But Hansman’s writing is clear and succinct, and she has done a great deal of research. As someone who has spent the better part of a decade thinking about Colorado River governance, I was impressed by the book. Hansman exceeded my expectations. Her descriptions and discussions of western water topics are so useful and accurate that they make an excellent starting point for anyone wanting to learn more about these issues.

My only regret is that she concludes her journey at the confluence of the Green River with the Colorado rather than continuing down the Colorado River into Arizona, Nevada, California, and Mexico. The rest of the Colorado River Basin would benefit from being similarly explored. I hope she has plans to continue her journey in the future.