Rivers Of Change

The Lewis and Clark Expedition was written on rivers. Moving west of the Mississippi, the expedition travelled along the Missouri, Snake, Yellowstone, Columbia and other smaller rivers during its 1804-1806 transcontinental exploration. This book explores how Western rivers travelled on by the Lewis and Clark expedition changed during two centuries since their voyage. Many changes were born from an attitude (no longer prevalent) that controlling nature was humans' right and duty. This attitude led to the construction of massive dams and the creation of 'engineered' rivers. How did these changes impact people and their attitudes? "Rivers of Change" lets conversations, research and odd historical tales tell the story. To succeed in their mission, Lewis and Clark solicited local information and worked in concert with environments they moved through. It's time to relearn those lessons if we want to preserve the health of this country's rivers. Rivers of Change entertains as it tells how. At the dawn of U.S. history, the Lewis and Clark expedition transformed Western geography from an unknown myth into documented reality. It's time to celebrate the achievements of this band of explorers, and to rethink how we manage rivers - the lifeblood of our continent. It's also time to enjoy a good book!

Tom Mullen spent over a decade working as a water resources consultant while living in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and in the US. He has a Masters Degree in Water Resource Systems Manag ement and has published articles and photographs i magazines that incl ude International Groundwater Technology, World Water, Groundwater Age and Resource Recycling. He also researched articles in the Western Un ited States with the award winning environmental newspaper High Countr y News in Paonia, Colorado. In April of 2001,Tom returned to the US to begin exploring the Lewis and Clark trail and to research and write R ivers of Change.