Water is for Fighting Over: and Other Myths about Water in the West

by John Fleck

When we think of water in the West, we think of conflict and crisis. In recent years, newspaper headlines have screamed, “Scarce water and the death of California farms,” “The Dust Bowl returns,” “A ‘megadrought’ will grip U.S. in the coming decades.” Yet similar stories have been appearing for decades and the taps continue to flow. John Fleck argues that the talk of impending doom is not only untrue, but dangerous. When people get scared, they fight for the last drop of water; but when they actually have less, they use less.

Having covered environmental issues in the West for a quarter century, Fleck would be the last writer to discount the serious problems posed by a dwindling Colorado River. But in that time, Fleck has also seen people in the Colorado River Basin come together, conserve, and share the water that is available. Western communities, whether farmers and city-dwellers or US environmentalists and Mexican water managers, have a promising record of cooperation, a record often obscured by the crisis narrative.

In this fresh take on western water, Fleck brings to light the true history of collaboration and examines the bonds currently being forged to solve the Basin’s most dire threats. Rather than perpetuate the myth “Whiskey's for drinkin', water's for fightin' over," Fleck urges readers to embrace a new, more optimistic narrative—a future where the Colorado continues to flow.  

Genres: Environment, Nonfiction, Science, Conservation, History

264 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2016

Reviews

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded down because while this is a very good history of water rights and usage of the Colorado River, trying to follow Fleck's main thesis - that portraying our water usage issues as a "crisis" is wrong - was very challenging. It wasn't until the last two pages of the book that I finally came to understand Fleck's point, and wondered why he hadn't made it as clear much earlier in the book.

Fleck's two main points are that 1) freaking out about there not being water leads to fighting over water which is bad because no problems get solved and 2) actually, when people have less water they'll adapt and use less water. A misleading statement, because people will only change if they are forced to change, which Fleck doesn't actually admit is his point until the conclusion. And who will make the rules? A collaboration of state governments, local water districts, and environmentalists. It literally took until the last two pages of the book for Fleck to make it clear that was his point of the book. The rest of the book talks about the history of the Colorado River (not chronologically, which makes it a bit confusing) and about the collaborative work that has already been done by the various stakeholders. The realization that all those chapters connect to his point that people will adapt and use less water doesn't click until the conclusion, even though he brings the point up in the beginning.

I did appreciate the chapter about who gets left out of water negotiations - kudos to Fleck for bringing up the viewpoints of the disenfranchised (in this case, Native tribes, Mexico and the environment). And functionally, I liked how his chapters were broken up into short sections - I always appreciate easy stopping points in books.

Overall, very informative, just kind of confusingly written.

[Socraticgadfly · Rating 1 out of 5]

Intellectually dishonest, in my opinion.

I have Fleck’s blog (with some coauthors, mainly Eric Kuhn, the coauthor of his new book, but it’s primarily his) on my blogroll.

He knows the numbers stuff, or has friends and blog coauthors that do.

But, he’s Kumbaya on Colorado River stuff, as in like Preznit Kumbaya, aka Obama. And, on his blog, he sneered about Marc Reisner. And, yes, IMO, sneered is the right word. Look for yourself.

So, knowing Fleck had written this book, and that he had a new one coming out, I wanted to see what he was like in more than blogging depth.

Answer?

Worse than on the blog.

Let’s start with the most egregious issue. A 2016 book about Colorado River water issues doesn’t even use the words “climate change” until page 199? UNACCEPTABLE.

Second, and the point behind the header?

Much of the “Kumbaya” that Fleck mentions was only achieved with the threat of a legal mailed fist behind it. Kumbaya by force of law is hardly Kumbaya.

Other issues that pop up early on?

More dissing of Reisner. After initial mention, simply ignoring James Powell, author of “Dead Pool.” I have re-read “Cadillac Desert” have a dozen times and “Dead Pool” twice. Both are in my small “keepers” library.

Next? More Kumbaya, even as places like today’s Aral Sea basin, Jordan River, Tigris-Euphrates and Nile show that Kumbaya ain’t working so well as we speak.

We don't even need to go outside the Colorado Basin! The fate of the Hohokam should indicate that Kumbaya doesn't always win.

Next next? Ignoring that Colorado River water usage has been mitigated by ever-heavier drawdowns of groundwater, both in groundwater basins connected to the Colorado (Arizona) and in those not (California), though there it’s more to reduce Sacramento-San Joaquin water u se in the Central Valley.

Next next next? Ignoring the connection between groundwater basins and river recharge. Anybody who knows the godawful state of southern Arizona tributaries of the Gila also knows why.

And, we’ll keep going. In supporting growing alfalfa as a flexible crop, he ignores that the methane farts of the cows it feeds contribute to the climate change that is making the Colorado ever drier. But, since he doesn't mention climate change until the end of the book ...

A lot of the Kumbaya cooperation Fleck cites, like in SoCal, has the fist of threatened legal power behind it, in specific, just as has most Colorado River stuff. Doesn’t matter if the threat is rarely invoked; it exists. That’s “forced Kumbaya,” not Kumbaya.

Also, it comes off as a bit cherry-picking to discuss a couple of small Southland water districts and never discuss the massive water headaches in the Central Valley, which were a large part of Reisner’s book.

One other reviewer notes water fights in the Central Valley (speaking of) are even worse than in the Colorado, and large scale corporate farms have no problems putting their thumb on the scales.

Back inside the Colorado basin, and after the date of this book, Arizona’s state Speaker of the House Bowers nearly gutted a needed agreement for new water use reductions earlier this year with a proposed rider on the bill. Only the threat of the Maricopa affiliation of Indian tribes forced his hand. Fleck made light of it.

Speaking of that, that water agreement was required because of Lake Mead hitting 1.075 elevation. Fleck, near the end of the book, notes that a previous agreement didn’t directly address 1,075, but appears to believe there that this point wouldn’t hit until after 2020.

Well, Fleck, it hit before then, and it hit before then in spite of a record Rockies snowpack in 2019. Did you talk about climate change in your new book?

One other point vis-à-vis the Anglo water world in the Southwest in general, American Indian water rights are the 800-pound gorilla in the room. Fleck does eventually discuss them – for half a dozen pages or so in the last 10 percent of the book. But he doesn’t go into detail.

Next, he never considers whether a “moon shoot” shouldn’t overhaul the current Upper / Lower Basin divisions. (I say it should; I’d put the Virgin River in the lower basin and the Little Colorado in the upper.) Related to that, on his blog, Fleck appears wedded to giving the Upper Basin just as much water despite its lesser population and its agricultural challenges.

Something almost as inexcusable as not mentioning climate change until the end of the book? Talking early on about the Mormons and the amount of water management ideas they spread around the West while ignoring that they got much of that, in turn, by learning from the majordomos who ran (and still run, in many cases) acequias in New Mexico. It’s doubly inexcusable not to mention this since Fleck is a long term reporter at the Albuquerque Journal.

That’s even though he mentions it in his blog. While, at the same time, it's a throwaway line.

Look, some "gloom and doom" newspaper reporting and books over the state of the Colorado may have been too much. BUT, they were reasonable extrapolations from the status quo at the time they were written. Killing a perhaps sometimes overdone angle the way Fleck has done is proverbial gnat meeting sledgehammer.

Of course, a sledgehammer can't be swung quickly and accurately enough to actually kill a gnat.

Finally, beyond the thumb-on-scales slant, I just don't think the book is that well written. The throwaway nature of the Mormon comment would be one example.

[Rick B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book on the myths and truths of water in the western U.S. The trick is not falling for the hyperbole and instead working in unison to solve common problems. Albuquerque and Las Vegas have shown us how to thrive on less water usage per capita. Now it's time to bring the other players into the fold. History shows us that nobody is going to succeed by being selfish and uncooperative.

[Andrew Belanger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful discussion of Colorado River issues, exploring the needs and interests of all the players. Fleck doesn’t flinch from describing the complexity, but his thesis is that the players solve issues when they’re forced to. It will be interesting to see whether his thesis holds up under current demands.

[Serah J Blain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provided a useful (and optimistic) general overview of the history and policy surrounding water in the West. Much of the book was spent on an idealistic argument for the diplomatic process; for those of us already sold on the idea that building relationships and opening communication channels is necessary for making change, this book is preaching to the choir. But, the preaching does include a lot of important narrative and background on water law, so it's a useful primer for those of us trying to get a basic understanding of the complex rules governing water.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent, and I'm shocked its average rating on here isn't higher. This book genuinely moved my worldview on an important topic on which I've already read quite a lot.

There are many, many books about the water crisis in the west (and the Colorado River Basin in particular). What makes Fleck's book exceptionally good is that it's not all doom and gloom. He certainly acknowledges the challenges faced by western water users and relevant policymakers. He does not sugar coat the situation. But the angle of the book is to review how crises and disputes have been worked out over the last 100 years even amidst tight water supply and suboptimal--and outdated--legal frameworks. Fleck shows that networks of stakeholders--often informal networks--have managed this resource in creative ways that, at least until now, have worked out reasonably well. He also highlights ways in which water users and managers have shown foresight and planned ahead for crisis; for example, he discusses efforts Las Vegas made in recent decades to add pipelines out of Lake Mead that could supply water even under low-water conditions, such as the current moment in which the lake has fallen below the old pipeline at 1500 feet. He talks about the remarkable progress major cities have made (most notably Las Vegas and Albuquerque) in reducing per-capita water use. And he talks about victories won by environmentalists seeking to return water to places important to wildlife--victories won by sitting at the table and talking. It feels a bit touchy feely, and yet he heavily cites Elinor Ostrom, who won an economics Nobel for her work on how people can and do cooperate to solve common resource problems (indeed, her dissertation work was about water in Los Angeles). This isn't hippy stuff.

The subtitle of the book is critical. Western water hasn't been all about fights. Ultimately the west isn't going to run out of water. There are hard times ahead to be sure. Adaptation will be needed. But I think the acute, dramatic crisis portended by the conventional wisdom is unlikely.

Fleck is realistic about the competing interests at stake. He goes into detail about the key role of agriculture--while cities may ban lawn sprinklers and require low-flow toilets, ultimately agriculture accounts for the vast majority of Colorado water use, and reducing use will require agriculture to adapt. He talks about how farmers have already had to adapt, and he provides some reason for optimism about further adaptations (for example, there is still a lot of alfalfa grown in the basin that could be grown somewhere else that has more water). Again, he doesn't sugar coat it. But he's clear eyed about it all.

(My personal view is that far less farming should be happening in the basin, but it continues to happen because of massive taxpayer subsidies--both indirect via things like water infrastructure and direct via direct payments. Though perhaps the Imperial Valley and Yuma farms--which Fleck reports account for 90% of the country's winter lettuce crop among other things--should still exist).

This book, like many others on the topic, again highlights the fact that the American West's culture of rugged individualism is made possible by a massive, centrally planned, taxpayer funded system of water infrastructure. People in water-rich areas subsidize civilization in the Western US. Conversations with farmers and others in the area--reported in this and other books--reveal a sort of unstated sense of entitlement to this infrastructure. It seems to me that this should be acknowledged more often.

The book also highlights the ways in which water users have moved water from other basins into their own. I grew up in western Colorado being mad at Denver for piping water over the mountains. Denver isn't in the Colorado basin; it's not their water! But this isn't an exception; it's the norm. Denver, Salt Lake, Albuquerque, and Los Angeles all move huge amounts of Colorado water to their population despite being above or outside of the basin; the Colorado River Aqueduct that feeds Los Angeles is bigger than the Rio Grande! And it happens at smaller scale too. Towns get water from neighboring basins all the time. One of the first big federal projects was the Gunnison Tunnel, completed in 1909, which moves Gunnison River water out of the Gunnison basin into the Uncompahgre basin, where I grew up, because the Uncompahgre is too small and volatile to support agriculture. I was always mad at Denver for stealing water, while I was drinking water "stolen" from the Gunnison! But this is the norm. Water is moved to the people--always has been and always will be.

One other point: Fleck acknowledges that water is not priced in a market, and he notes that economists would prefer that it is. It continues to amaze me that western water users don't pay astronomical prices for their water, as they would if a real market existed instead of the centrally planned quantity allocation currently used. A price mechanism would provide high-quality signals about scarcity. Has putting a price on western water ever been seriously tried? I'd read a book about that. And yet, Fleck notes that there are some quasi-price mechanisms at work; ultimately, even if water does not have a marginal cost paid by users, water rights can be priced (and frequently are), and I'd expect that shadow prices are often at work in bargaining done between municipalities, states, environmentalists, and so on.

The final paragraph of the 2019 edition sums it up well (page 207): "Over and over, we have seen people faced with the need to use less water realize that they can, that it is not as hard as they thought. Either through forced water reductions or negotiated agreements, then, we will come to terms with our new reality. Because, as veteran Colorado River water manager Eric Kuhn points out, 'Optimistic or pessimistic--isn't the answer the same? We'll use the water nature gives us.'"

Read this book! It's very good. And read Fleck's blog at http://www.inkstain.net/fleck/.

[Judd Street · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Water is for Fighting Over" by John Fleck is a myth-busting approach to telling stories about the American southwest. In it, Fleck has two projects: to offer an antidote to simplistic stories of competition over water, and to reveal the stories of success that underpin these unspoken realities. Fleck does an excellent job of the first - to great effect - but struggles on the second.

The first (and fundamental) task of the book is to dispel these simplistic narratives about water. Fleck lays out three different myths - that water is for fighting over, that it flows towards money, and that it is about to run out - that dominate our story telling about water in the west. Throughout the book, Fleck does a pretty solid job of dispelling these myths by showing ways that water has been collaboratively allocated rather than fought over; examples of water flowing not to rich cities but to much less economically powerful rural and agricultural users; and a resilience against the imminent demise of the Colorado River. Fleck lays out these arguments effectively and engagingly, and for a purpose (rather than simply to be a contrarian). These simplistic myths, he argues, "actually stand in the way of solving our problems" (p. 6), and telling stories of success, collaboration, and opportunity can be much more powerful than rhetoric that heats water management up into a competitive battle. I'd agree.

(As an aside, the conclusion eats away at this myth-busting, to a degree. In it, Fleck himself returns to some of the typical tropes of disappearing water to set up the importance of collaborative, forward-looking management. In doing so, however, he seems to fall into the same trap that he rallies against throughout the book, all in service of a neater, bow-and-ribbon conclusion.)

While the book succeeds on this first challenge, it leaves something to be desired in its second project: exploring these positive stories. We do get some really interesting vignettes of collaboration, deliberation, and solution-finding (e.g., the role of a face-to-face, multi-stakeholder river-trip in productive negotiations; the policy window opened by an earthquake), but we never really learn enough about 'how the sausage is made' in these stories. They're told in something of a 'just so' kind of way, with passive voice often obscuring more than it reveals. Why exactly did these conversations work, when others before or after didn't? How did they get the stakeholders around this table when they refused to come to that one? How exactly did they overcome the barrier discussed?

Still, I'd recommend the book on the merits of the first project. It's an effective glimpse into moments of hope in complex and controversial environmental management, laying out some of what can be defused and achieved when people work together. While it would be all the richer with more details about how these victories were won, Fleck's simpler project - that of showing victories do exist, and trying to reframe the conversation in a way that enables more future collaborations - is well accomplished in the book.

[Wayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 for 2019: Water is for Fighting Over by John Fleck

"Whiskey is for drinkin' and water is for fightin' over."

This quote is attributed to Mark Twain,and characterizes much of what we know about Western water issues. But...is this really true?

Fleck examines this and other commonly held beliefs of water conflict in the West, largely focusing on the Colorado River basin water.

His contention is that most progress on water use in the arid Southwest is from cooperation, albeit some of it forced at time.

One example is agriculture. Most of the use of Colorado River water is for agriculture...gains in water conservation with swapping out high water, low profit crops for lower water, higher profit crops has led to revenue increases and lower water use, which can be sold to urban areas.

Many case studies like this are given in the book, including Las Vegas (a water conservation star, making great use and reuse of its meager 300,000 acre-feet per year).

Fleck also looks at those who have been largely left out of this collaborative process (Natives, Mexico, and the environment), although that is beginning to change.

A highly recommended read for those of us who grew up on Reisner's Cadillac Desert (which emphasizes the conflict).

[Jun-Dai Bates-Kobashigawa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very important subject matter. Essentially this is a book on the sociology of the water management of the Colorado River.

Interesting ideas about the importance of social capital and informal collaboration as the basis of finding solutions when dealing with common-resource problems. Also interesting are the examples that the author points out of the repeated underestimation of people's ability to reduce water usage.

And the book definitely details some good examples of how fear of losing privileges can lead to adversarial behaviour that results in everyone losing out, whereas working with all the key parties on the assumption that everyone will have to give something up and legal recourse will be the worst option for everyone can result in a more optimal and rational decision that everyone can live with. Essentially: there is nothing to fear but fear itself.

But the book is quite repetitive, often introducing ideas that were introduced earlier in the book as if they hadn't been mentioned before, and then sort of reintroducing it a few paragraphs later. A somewhat aggravating habit that mars an otherwise excellent book.

[Rhea Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read for those who wish to understand the backstory of water management decisions during 21st century post-drought conditions in the Southwestern USA. Carefully researched, reflecting the author's past experience as a journalist. One of the few thoughtful discussions of the Lower Colorado River international boundary, it unwittingly becomes context for the reset of USA-Mexico relations begun in 2017.

[Steve Wegman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story of the Colorado River: not enough water for too much demand. Several good lessons: people will conserve if they see the need; everyone loses when a judge makes the rules instead of the affected parties figuring things out on their own; self interests rule. Good lessons for us in the wetter parts of the country who nonetheless face potential water shortages. I should have liked this book more, but it wasn't that engaging.

[Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fleck's meticulous research and common prose make for a wonderful read. I also really appreciate his level-headed myth busting approach. We can and will figure out the water troubles in the West.

A must read for anyone interested in water law or western politics.

[Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

non fiction, a little boring, does give you a good history of water management over the years

[Rachel Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! everyone in the Colorado River Basin needs to read this book. we need to start having conversations around our water usage and work towards conservation on all levels.

[Justin Honsinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one. I learned a lot of stuff I never knew about before.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings. Fights Reisner's zero-sum, doom-and-gloom, which I appreciate, but comes off as a bit rosy about compromise and collaboration while downplaying anyone excluded.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book provides a clear example of how communication and collective collaboration can help over come the problem the commons.

[Robert Putka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Required reading for a Water Resources Law class.

[RONALD PEYTON · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very detailed and well referenced book about the allocation and use of the Colorado River Water.
Goes into the past history and legal battles over water use by all seven states in the Colorado River Basin especially Arizona and California and Mexico. The solution to problems of distribution is complicated and not easily resolved. It is amazing some of the compromises and innovations that have been arrived at by competing interests. Found the book very interesting and easy to read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assigned on SITW, and I finished it afterwards. Provides excellent context for the places I visited in the greater Colorado "watershed" and places I was familiar with (LA). The beginning instilled some fury into me for those still expanding desert metropolises without regard to water supply; such sentiment was bound to be unleashed eventually, and it wasn't too convenient when it happened at the beginning of our 50 day stay in the desert at Comb Ridge, Utah. But overall this was a good read, it says something that I stuck with it until I finished it long after the program, right?!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a hopeful book! Fleck does a great job of explaining the successful steps desert communities have already taken and the (often informal) efforts underway by multiple states/countries to become better users of the Colorado River. Not to say that there have not been challenges, nor to say that all challenges have been overcome, but to have a book that recognizes accomplishments and hope – rather than just trying to scare the reader – is a true treat.

[Halston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great historical, story-telling perspective on the Colorado River Basin. It was a little irksome that he pressed repeatedly towards the conclusion that "collaborating on water management is better than fighting" approach - but once you agree with him on that premise the entire book becomes a really enjoyable read :)

[Jayash · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful take on water management issues pertaining to the Colorado River Basin! Strongly recommended!!

[Brian Lindawson]

Got 20% in and just wasn't feeling it. Moved a little slowly. Nothing was particularly interesting. Would just go back and re-read Cadillac Desert if I wanted more Water West