Virtual Rivers: Lessons from the Mountain Rivers of the Colorado Front Range [Hardcover]

Dr. Ellen Wohl (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2001

Sparsely settled mountain areas of the world, such as Colorado's Front Range, give an impression of wild, untouched, and unchanging nature. Yet in many cases mountain rivers that appear to be pristine natural systems actually have been impaired as a result of human activities. In this timely and accessible book, Ellen Wohl documents two hundred years of land-use patterns on the Front Range and their wide-ranging effects on river ecosystems. If we hope to manage river resources effectively and preserve functioning river ecosystems, the author warns, we must recognize how beaver trapping, placer mining, timber harvesting, flow regulation, road and railroad construction, recreation, cattle grazing, and other human activities have impaired rivers, and continue to do so. The rivers of the Colorado Front Range are representative of mountain rivers throughout the world: land-use patterns affecting their form and function are little-recognized or understood. This book fills an important gap with a clear and comprehensive explanation of how rivers are changed by human activity and includes a generous selection of striking historical and contemporary photographs, maps, and diagrams.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Wohl masterfully combines scientific knowledge, historical analysis, and a passion for mountain landscapes . . . compelling." -- Sandra Postel, director, Global Water Policy Project, and author of Pillar of Sand: Can the Irrigation Miracle Last?

Applicable to other mountain river systems around the world. . .Nontechnical language; extensive citations of technical literature; historical analysis. Recommended. -- Choice

About the Author

Ellen E. Wohl is professor of geology at Colorado State University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Yale University Press; First Edition edition (March 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0300084846
• ISBN-13: 978-0300084849
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,573,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you thought you knew front-range rivers, read this..., January 16, 2004

By 

Thomas A. Ginn - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Virtual Rivers: Lessons from the Mountain Rivers of the Colorado Front Range (Hardcover)

Ellen's book gives a historical perspective on the forces that have shaped the rivers of Colorado's front range. I grew up on the Colorado's front-range and would never have suspected the extent of change that these rivers have undergone. She covers the period from the Beaver Men to the present. During a recent fishing vacation back to the area I was able to stand where some of the photos were taken, read the descriptions, and envision the changes for myself. Hopefully, concerned citizens and their elected officials will take her advice throughout the book seriously and protect these valuable resources for the future!