United States
£ GBP
Nevada's Newlands Project, completed in 1915, was the first federally subsidized water reclamation scheme in the U.S. This book examines its construction and its many unintended consequences, including deterioration of water quality, destruction of vital wetlands, interruption of ecosystems and pollution of waterways and ground water.
The project also resulted in decades of litigation involving water allocation and the abatement of environmental, social and economic problems. The book traces the long course of negotiation between competing users that resulted in the signing of the Truckee River Operating Agreement in 2008. It illustrates the challenges of sharing a scarce resource to meet diverse needs and of preserving the resource and the environment for future generations.
"Wilds' adroit analysis provides valuable insights into how water policymakers can resolve seemingly intractable conflicts through careful, complex negotiations. Anyone interested in the future of western rivers should read this book."
– Daniel McCool, author of Native Waters: Contemporary Indian Water Settlements and the Second Treaty Era
"This book is relevant not only to Nevadans but to others interested in water policy and settlements."
– Kate A. Berry, co-editor of Social Participation in Water Management and Governance: Critical and Global Perspectives
"No one can talk or write intelligently about the Truckee without consulting this study."
– William D. Rowley, author of The Bureau of Reclamation: Origins and Growth to 1945
