The River Returns
An Environmental History of the Bow
Description
Alberta's iconic river has been dammed and plumbed, made to spin hydro-electric turbines, and used to cleanse Calgary. Artificial lakes in the mountains rearrange its flow; downstream weirs and ditches divert it to irrigate the parched prairie. Far from being wild, the Bow is now very much a human product: its fish are as manufactured as its altered flow, changed water quality, and newly stabilized and forested banks. The River Returns brings the story of the Bow River's transformation full circle through an exploration of the recent revolution in environmental thinking and regulation that has led to new limits on what might be done with and to the river. Rivers have been studied from many perspectives, but too often the relationship between nature and people, between rivers and the cultures that have grown up beside them, have been separated. The River Returns illuminates the ways in which humans, both inadvertently and consciously, have interacted with nature to make the Bow.
Reviews
"Well written, illustrated, and referenced, this volume is a powerful addition to understanding humanity's ecological footprints. Summing Up: Highly recommended." Choice Magazine
"The River Returns is a fascinating and detailed story by three eminent scholars, one that breaks new ground while adhering to the rigours demanded by historical research and inquiry. The scholarship is nothing short of outstanding and should be brought to both public and academic attention." Max Foran, University of Calgary