Water use and conservation in the American West have long been shaped by a host of geographic, environmental, political and economic factors. Today, though, serious questions are being raised about how western states used dams, irrigation systems, and other water-related infrastructure to transform the landscape of the West. Are current trends in water consumption across the West sustainable, given the region's arid environment and rapidly growing populations? Are so-called "water wars" between thirsty states (and between Mexico and USA) worsening? What impact will climate change have on the West's limited water resources--and the people who depend on them?

This book answers all those questions and more, drawing on quantifiable facts and the knowledge and perspectives of experts on water resource consumption, administration, and conservation to provide a one-stop resource for understanding the past, present, and future of water in the American West.