Marc Reisner reflects on a late-night flight in 1980 over Utah heading back to California. The author describes the emptiness below him, without towns, lights, or any sign of people. This emptiness changes as the plane flies over the Wasatch Range. Passengers can see lights below from several cities in northern Utah (e.g., Provo, Orem, Draper, and Salt Lake City), where most of the state’s residents reside. The Mormons, led by Brigham Young, first settled “this thin avenue of civilization” (2). Reisner notes that “without realizing it, they were laying the foundation of the most ambitious desert civilization the world has seen” (2).

From here, Reisner alerts the readers to the structure of the argument that follows, including key players and places. The book covers approximately 150 years of history and documents the growing concern about water scarcity in the western United States and how dam construction and agricultural development have contributed to the denigration of water quality and the environment. Key water projects discussed include the Central Valley Project, the California Water Project, the Central Arizona Project, and the North American Water and Power Alliance (NAWAPA). Reisner also discusses key political figures and administrations and their effect on water distribution policy throughout the American West.