Book Description

Limnology is the study of the structural and functional interrelationships of organisms of inland waters as they are affected by their dynamic physical, chemical, and biotic environments. Limnology: Lake and River Ecosystems, 3rd Edition, is a new edition of this established classic text. The coverage remains rigorous and uncompromising and has been thoroughly reviewed and updated with evolving recent research results and theoretical understanding. In addition, the author has expanded coverage of lakes to reservoir and river ecosystems in comparative functional analyses. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Difficult to Read
Well there is no doubt that this book contains a large amount of information, it CANNOT be used as an introductory text. It is much to difficult to comprehend, and Wetzel makes absolutely no effort to teach the concepts. Here merely presents a synthesis of limnological research.

Good as a Limnology Primer
This is an excellent general reference text. Can not say enough about the excellent content of this text. But it is need of an edition update with information for lake mapping and restoration. Dr. C.L. Nelson of St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, MN has an excellent small text on physical limnology for the mapping aspect. This book does do an excellent job on the biological aspects of limnological work.

My view of the Wetzel's limnology book
The book contains a lot of information related to lakes. It's a complete work about the conditions on this systems. Include a study about the performance of the ionic particles in this systems. It's a suitable book for students like me, to understand the freshwater ecology. ... Read more

Book Description

A thrilling account of the greatest geographical expedition of our time-the first-ever complete descent of the Nile River.

Over the past century, many explorers have attempted to run the magnificent Nile, but none succeeded. At least a dozen men died trying, and since 1964, three explorers have been shot, two have drowned, and another simply disappeared.

In April 2004, the renowned adventurer Pasquale Scaturro made history when he completed his epic journey down the Nile in 114 days, traveling 3,250 miles by kayak, from its source in Ethiopia to the shores of Alexandria, where it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. He ran the great river in the face of such obstacles as deadly crocodiles and hippos, arrests by Ethiopian and Egyptian militia, gunfire from Sudanese bandits, extreme temperatures, violent sandstorms, and exposure to malaria.

He details his historical quest here, with critically acclaimed coauthor Richard Bangs, in a breathtaking tale that features a beautiful collection of photographs. MacGillivray Freeman Films is releasing an IMAX movie in conjunction with the book. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Frequently Off Track
I read this book just prior to a trip to Egypt and a boat ride (as a lowly tourist) down the Nile. While I enjoyed most of it I found myself questioning whether or not I'd liked to have been on an expedition with these guys.

Although parts smack of rip-roaring adventure I feel that the author (written by Bangs with Scaturro's input) waivered off course a few too many times. I understand that the reader should know the motivation (and sometimes the personality) of the protagonist but there are too many chapters on Scaturro's other adventures, including rafting trips in Colorado and Idaho, the paralysis of his son and even climbing expeditions up Mt. Everest. I was looking for a straightforward tale of the first navigation of the entire Blue Nile. What we get is a treatise on the inner workings of the mind of a daring adventurer, working to overcome seemingly insurmountable problems as well as the demons from his past.

While the story is interesting (you find yourself asking how the heck they persevered) the individuals aren't exactly likeable. His companion, Gordon Brown, comes off as an unbelievable jerk. He assaults one of the Ethiopian crew members, throws fits and stubbornly insists on sticking with his kayak, no matter how much he jeapordizes the efforts of the team. At one point he disappears with his parents to go sightseeing in Luxor, at a very critical moment in the trip.

Scaturro, for someone with so much experience, seems to have started the trip a bit unprepared. He doesn't know Brown, he has no idea how he's going to cross the border into Sudan and, worse yet, decides to tackle the problem of navigating Lake Nasser, under strict Egyptian military control, by forcing his way across. Shouldn't these details have been worked out in advance? Sudan is, of course, problematic but the Egyptian government should have been consulted beforehand. The famous IMAX company should carry some clout. The entire undertaking was almost jeopardized due to a lack of prior permission from host governments.

None of this is to belittle what Brown and Scaturro accomplished. It's an amazing feat. The trials they overcame are incredible...being shot at by bandits, chased by crocodiles, threatened by hippos, intimidated by petty local officials, to say nothing of the life threatening and extremely dangerous rapids they traversed. I salute them for their courage and fortitude.

At times, however, I found myself wondering how Bangs, eight thousand miles away in the US, could have known what Scaturro was thinking or seeing at any given moment. They kept in contact by satellite phone and e-mail but descriptions of sunsets, Scaturro's self-doubt and flashbacks to problems faced on other expeditions come across as what historians call "re-thinking the thoughts." Either Bangs and Scaturro collaborated very closely or the writer did some imaginative filling-in of the blanks.

I'd recommend the book for what it is, a tale of the latest accomplishment of a professional adventurer. Personally, I prefer a more straightforward story, full of detail on what the team was experiencing at any given moment. That might have been accomplished if the person writing the book was actually on the expedition.

Unbelievable story!
Unbelievable yet true and full of perspective.This story combinespersonal journey and triumphs with ancient civilizations and current political and environmental issues.See the IMAX film, too!
LK ... Read more

Book Description

Popular interest in the observation and study of freshwater invertebrates is increasing. A Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America meets the needs of this growing audience of naturalists, environmentalists, anglers, teachers, students, and others by providing substantive information in easy-to-understand, nontechnical language for many groups of invertebrates commonly found in the streams, lakes, ponds, and other freshwater environments of North America.

Section I provides background information on the biology and ecology of freshwater organisms and environments and explains why and how invertebrates can be studied, simply and without complex equipment, in the field and the laboratory. Section II describes nearly 100 of the most common groups of invertebrates, and for each group a whole-body color illustration is provided along with brief text pointing out the most important features that identify members of the group. Section III contains in-depth descriptions of the life history, behavior, and ecology of the various invertebrate groups, and explains their important ecological contributions and relationships to humans.

The Guide is broad in scope, geographically and taxonomically, and it is written at a substantive yet easily accessible level that will appeal to both novices and those with more advanced knowledge of the subject. It also contains more than 100 specially commissioned color illustrations by the well-known scientific illustrator Amy Bartlett Wright that will greatly facilitate the easy and rapid identification of specimens. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Technical identification for the layman
Dr. Voshell has taken the highly technical methodologies involved in family level benthic macroinvertabrate identification and ecology and translated it for all to enjoy. His book is beneficial for the amateur, yet appropriate for the professional.

An excellent place to start for benthic macroinvertebrates
If I could recommend only one book to someone interested in getting started to learn about benthic macroinvertebrates, Voshell and Wright's Guide to Common Freshwater Invertebrates of North America would be it. The colored pictures are superb, and the text is clearly written and very informative. The introductory section of the book provides information to get the novice started: what are freshwater invertebrates and why are they of interest; how are they classified; a quick look at freshwater ecology; basics of freshwater invertebrate biology; and how to study these fascinating little critters.

The second section, which includes Amy Wright's beautiful pictures, provides very clearly written material on the distinguishing features of the various families. The third section, which is keyed to the second, provides information about the ecology, habitat, movement, feeding, breathing, life history, and significance (including pollution tolerance) for each of the families discussed.

This book is an excellent introduction. True, it is not as complete as Peckarsky, et al, Thorp and Covich, or McCafferty and Provonsha. On the other hand, it is nowhere nearly as intimidating as these much larger, very detailed, and more technical books are. For the amateur, Voshell and Wright's Guide provides a fine stepping stone to these other, less accessible works. I should expect that a bright, interested high school student would have no trouble using this book. Certainly it was a blessing to a retired chemist who needed to get up to speed on benthic macroinvertebrates.

In and out of water
A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA helps ordinary people find and name about 100 crustaceans, insects and worms, in shallow waters and without microscopes. Freshwaters are all inland waters, unaffected by sea tides and usually lacking in much salt. That means streams, rivers, ponds and lakes.

Freshwater invertebrates make up 70 percent of all known animals, microbes and plants. These skeletonless critters are important, in the food chain and to the environment. Some are scrumptious food, such as crayfish and river shrimp. All are hard-working environmentalists, earthworm-like in breaking down and cycling organic matter and nutrients. All are reality-checks to freshwater health. All are wake-up calls to changed living conditions, nature's temper tantrums, and pollution.

All are easy-to-know, too, because of this beautifully, one-of-a-kind illustrated, organized and written book. Illustrator Amy Bartlett Wright's artwork is outstanding. So is author J Reese Voshell, Jr's know-how. For he gives each invertebrate's breathing and feeding needs, life history, living space, movement, and stress level. In addition, he tells how to set up acceptable aquarium living for live catch.

Gravel can be on the bottom. But add stones, sticks, live plants, dead leaves, and bottom sediment, from where the invertebrates were caught. Water must be from where they were caught, too. It has fine detritus and microbe tidbits. Otherwise, a pump must bubble air in. That gets killer chlorine out of treated water.

An air stone letting out small amounts of air keeps down natural decay and smells. Likewise, it keeps water chock full of dissolved oxygen. So does a screen cover. Also, it keeps invertebrates from getting out.

Big chores are food and water. Take out what's not eaten within 24 hours. Change about 1/3 of the water every 2 weeks, if there's a lot of algae or scum.

The best bets are caddisflies, crustaceans, damsel and dragon flies, flat and segmented worms, mollusks, true bugs and flies, and water beetles. Specifically, those most likely to grow, from larvae into adults, are damsel and dragon flies. With my next stream quality monitoring, as soon as water levels go down, I'd like to start mine!

The Guide to Follow
Anyone with an interest in the outdoors or natural history finds wonder and amazement in all organisms one comes across. Even the smallest of creatures holds fascination on those keen on natural life and many times will leave you wondering, 'What is that ??'. A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA by J. Reese Voshell, Jr. is a wonderfully complete introduction to the small organisms that we find in the shallows of our local freshwater ponds, lakes, creeks or streams. Beautifully illustrated by Amy Bartlett Wright, A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA is much more than the typical field guides on the market today. The first section of the book takes the reader through the ecology and fundamentals of freshwater biology and freshwater invertebrates. Well written in an easy to follow flow that is indicative of his 25 years of research and study, J. Reese Voshell, Jr. explains how to use this book and introduces the reader to the guidelines to effectively study freshwater invertebrates. The rest of the book is split into two parts, the first not too different from most field guides are the illustrated descriptions of 100 of the most common freshwater invertebrates with easy to follow distinguishing characteristics. This identification section is referenced by page to the third section that contains a detailed description on the distribution, habitat, biology and feeding habitats of each of the individual freshwater invertebrates. All written in an easy to follow format, A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA is a comprehensive guide and study tool, it is part field guide and part biology text, the combination of which is what makes this book unique and valuable. A GUIDE TO COMMON FRESHWATER INVERTEBRATES OF NORTH AMERICA is as complete a guide book as you will ever find or need. ... Read more

Book Description

The conventional approach to river protection has focused on water quality and maintaining some "minimum" flow that was thought necessary to ensure the viability of a river. In recent years, however, scientific research has underscored the idea that the ecological health of a river system depends not on a minimum amount of water at any one time but on the naturally variable quantity and timing of flows throughout the year.

In Rivers for Life, leading water experts Sandra Postel and Brian Richter explain why restoring and preserving more natural river flows are key to sustaining freshwater biodiversity and healthy river systems, and describe innovative policies, scientific approaches, and management reforms for achieving those goals. The authors:

Book Description

"Fundamentally, the salmon's decline has been the consequence of a vision based on flawed assumptions and unchallenged myths.... We assumed we could control the biological productivity of salmon and 'improve' upon natural processes that we didn't even try to understand. We assumed we could have salmon without rivers." -from the introductio.

From a mountain top where an eagle carries a salmon carcass to feed its young to the distant oceanic waters of the California current and the Alaskan Gyre, salmon have penetrated the Northwest to an extent unmatched by any other animal. Since the turn of the twentieth century, the natural productivity of salmon in Oregon, Washington, California, and Idaho has declined by eighty percent. The decline of Pacific salmon to the brink of extinction is a clear sign of serious problems in the region.

In Salmon Without Rivers, fisheries biologist Jim Lichatowich offers an eye-opening look at the roots and evolution of the salmon crisis in the Pacific Northwest. He describes the multitude of factors over the past century and a half that have led to the salmon's decline, and examines in depth the abject failure of restoration efforts that have focused almost exclusively on hatcheries to return salmon stocks to healthy levels without addressing the underlying causes of the decline. The book:

• describes the evolutionary history of the salmon along with the geologic history of the Pacific Northwest over the past 40 million years
• considers the indigenous cultures of the region, and the emergence of salmon-based economies that survived for thousands of years
• examines the rapid transformation of the region following the arrival of Europeans
• presents the history of efforts to protect and restore the salmon
• offers a critical assessment of why restoration efforts have failed.

Throughout, Lichatowich argues that the dominant worldview of our society-a worldview that denies connections between humans and the natural world-has created the conflict and controversy that characterize the recent history of salmon; unless that worldview is challenged and changed, there is little hope for recovery. Salmon Without Rivers exposes the myths that have guided recent human-salmon interactions. It clearly explains the difficult choices facing the citizens of the region, and provides unique insight into one of the most tragic chapters in our nation's environmental history. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Pacific Northwest Salmon History Book
Salmon Without Rivers is a great book of historical facts. It includes many issues like; original salmon locations/populations, "Economy over Environment" issues, and the ineffectiveness of large decision making commissions/agencies. However, with all his good background information the book does not propose any solutions nor investigates today's coastal human communities as they relate to the salmon and/or habitat.

A captivating, human, informed book
As a freelance author writing a piece about salmon for a California-based magazine, this book was indispensible and eye-opening. It is unfailingly sensitive and intelligent about salmon, discussing the fish as fellow creatures in the "natural economy" in which we all live, rather than as mere commodities in the "industrial economy" that has transformed the West in the last 150 years. It is fascinating about the geology that shaped the salmon's environment, the evolutionary history of the fish, the relationship between Native Americans and salmon in the Northwest, and it provides a detailed history of the many factors that have led to the salmon's decline, including habitat destruction, misbegotten hatchery programs, overfishing, dams, mining, grazing, irrigation. If you like to read books about ecology, the creatures of the earth, fish, or the Northwest--you can't go wrong. This is a wonderful book.

Save the salmon and us
A thoroughly researched and impassioned presentation including the history of salmon, their decline, why billions of tax dollars in restoration efforts have had paltry returns, and insights into the where we should go from here. A complex issue is examined from many perspectives in an easy to read and compelling book. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in salmon.

A must read for anyone that loves the Northwest!
I lived my whole life in this area and I had no idea the full extent of the damage we have done. Mr. Lichatowich presents us with a very well researched and thoroughly compeling book. I would recommend this to anyone that loves the Northwest.

History and Ecology
The book is appropriately subtitled "a history of the Pacific salmon crisis". The author offers a highly readable account of the history of salmon in the Pacific, and really a history of the Pacific Northwest, from the last ice age to today. He offers a comprehensive and evidence-based description of how multiple factors are interacting to create "the salmon crisis". I think this book has broad appeal and will be very rewarding to anyone interested in the history and ecology of the northwest. ... Read more

Book Description

Relive all the thrills and adventure of Alan Moorehead's classic bestseller The White Nile -- the daring exploration of the Nile River in the second half of the nineteenth century, which was at that time the most mysterious and impenetrable region on earth. Capturing in breathtaking prose the larger-than-life personalities of such notable figures as Stanley, Livingstone, Burton and many others, The White Nile remains a seminal work in tales of discovery and escapade, filled with incredible historical detail and compelling stories of heroism and drama.

Reviews (17)

They don't come better than this
This volume is set in the latter half of the 19th Century, and narrates the quest to discover the source of the Nile, followed by the attempted exploitation of Africa, the struggle for power, sveral wars, and so on. It is a very worthwhile read.

Alan Moorehead is the best writer of documentary literature that I know of. He is a joy to read: informative, funny, entertaining, but still a shrewd intellectual with a profound understanding of history. I particularly enjoyed the exploration part, which brings to life such larger-than-life characters as Livingstone, Stanley, Burton, Speke, etc. These early explorers make even the most intrepid modern daredevils look like couch potatoes.

While reading some parts of the book one cannot help but draw parallels to current events. Many of the events recounted could as well have happened today - including horrific savagery in Central Africa, and moslem fanaticism in the Sudan. Perhaps we have not really come very far in 150 years.

The White Nile
Alan Moorehead`s book about the Nile, with its explorers of that heroic age - the late 19th century - is truly a magnificent achievement! It was simply so overwhelmingly, both thrilling and informative that I could hardy put it down.
Starting with the pioneers Speke, and Burton, Samuel Baker, then describing the greatness of Dr Livingstone and the agile and ambitious Stanley, after which we encounter the purely Victorian General Gordon, his contradictory personality, and his end at the wall of Khartum.
Mr Moorehead ushers us to the court of King Mutesa the Buganda monarch that shows as a real illustration of an imaginative fable king.
After having read this valuable work, we will gain the most ultimate information concerning the rarely told yarn of the history of East Africa, Uganda, Egypt, and the Sudan. And that glamorous river, of course.
This book is a must if you would like to understand the connections between the past, the horrors of the slave trade, the effects of colonization, the interests of autocratic emperors, the colliding interests of greedy colonists, and their subordinates, as well as the present problems of today that result from those incredibly engulfing events that took place in those decades.

A dated but exciting read
Anyone who enjoys historical narrative will enjoy The White Nile. It certainly robbed me of my sleep! I was expecting much more on the exploration itself, and wasn't prepared for the long section on Khartoum and Gordon, but it turned out to be a fascinating story, one worth reading.

The problem with this book has already been pointed out: its dated, essentially racist attitudes. Moorehead, true to his era (this book was researched/written in the late 50s) evinces very little sympathy for African cultures. Gordon, Speke, Burton and Livingstone may have been admirable for their courage, and their intentions may have been good, but Moorehead has a tendency to hero-worship these Great British Men a little too much for my taste. It is telling that the Arabs, though portrayed chiefly as ruthless slavers and religious fanatics, are still 'civilised companions' to the Europeans who seem unable to have meaningful contact with black Africans. But in this also the book is worth reading - perhaps it is this huge gap of understanding between colonisers and colonised that is the root of Africa's problems even today. To his credit, however, Moorehead recognises the debilitating effect of slavery, endemic violence foreign intervention on African cultures.

Read this book as a great adventure complete with wild heathen, murderous fevers, messianic leaders and impenetrable swamps; as a historical narrative of empire building and its discontents; as a psychological study of explorers, soldiers and bureaucrats; as food for thought on the explosive contact between cultures that bred contempt, pity and fear.

Destined to be a Classic
This book and its companion book "The Blue Nile" will not disappoint anyone looking for an interesting story of equatorial exploration, in the days when the interior of Africa was still the "great unknown " to the world at large. This book has fallen into or is teetering on the brink of political incorrectness in some circles, but it is amazing that that is what is drawn from this book. It is one of the best accounts of the exploration for the source of the Nile river. The source was not known by the world at large until a series of explorations and conquests took place. Taking an overall view, armies still clashed with the native inhabitants, explorers still faced hardships and ordeals. A portion of World History took place in this area,.in what was probably the last equatorial "Man against Nature exploration struggles The book is extremely well written. A very entertaining style. I rate the Blue and White Nile together. The White Nile led me to the Blue Nile book and a plan for some follow-up reading on the explorer, Richard Francis Burton. The main point is the shocking realization that that source of one of the world most historic
rivers was not common knowledge until fairly recent times.

Badly Dated
This book relates the Western attempts of the 19th Century to find the fabled source of the Nile River. (Evidently the other main branch, the Blue Nile, is just some kind of wuss river and its particular source was easily found.) Written in 1960, this study was just recently released in a new edition, which I feel is a bit of a mistake, inasmuch as it really seems to have first been printed in 1860.

In Moorehead's prose (not merely the quotes of the explorers), the Africans are invariably "savage", "primitive", and "ignorant". Their lack of civilization is frequently bemoaned, as is their embrace of superstition and paganism, which is evidently the result of their inability to comprehend advanced concepts. Also, it goes without saying that they are lazy and indolent and usually up to no good.

On the other hand, he does admit that no one asked the various parties from England, America, France, and Germany to go tearing around the countryside and that great harm came as a result of these intrusions. However, it is not exactly the case that East Africa was a pristine wilderness, since apparently it had been overrun by Arab slavers for centuries.

Anyway, we get to learn a bit about Burton (of "A Thousand And One Nights" fame) and Speke, Grant, Baker, Livingstone and Stanley, and Gordon. For the most part, the book pretty much breaks down into a first half about the explorations that took place up until Gordon became Governor-General of the Sudan, and then in the second half it relates the tragic events of the uprising of the Mahdi, the siege of Khartoum, and the later punitive expeditions to finally uproot the rebels and return the Sudan to the proper authorities (i.e. the English, operating through their Egyptian puppets).

I gotta say the section about Gordon and his lieutenant Emin was pretty stirring and tragical and stuff. I should read up some more on this. And it was pretty cool to see some more 20th century types like Churchill, Kitchener, and Beatty go drifting through. That Churchill--he sure got around, eh?

But the book really was spoiled for me by the overt racism, which was of a weird flavor, seeing as how the author also berated the explorers for their own bad attitudes towards Africans. Dude--don't criticize yer neighbor for having a splinter in his eye when you have a plank in yer own, all right? ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (3)

Great book for all disciplines...
This book encompasses the history of the Yangtze, as a history major I enjoyed learning about the history pertaining the Yangtze. Moreover, it discusses the political motives behind the construction of the dam. Also, this book addresses the social as well as environmental costs of TGD. It is a great book for students, travelers, environmentalists, historians, and those who have an interest in China.

Before the Deluge
A superb book. Drawing from her life experience, the author gives vivid picture of people's life along China's Yangtze River. The construction of the super-dam will greatly alter people's life there. We should thank the author for recording, thus preserving the past that will be gone forever. Scholars, especially scholars of China Studies would get detailed description of the daily life of Chinese people. Travellers would also find the book useful. The author was among the first group of foreigners who worked and travelled in China after 1976. Thus, her story is really invaluable since not many foreigners had the chance to witness China around 1980. Overall, the book is informative and insightful. Wonderful work.

Before The Deluge
December, 2, 2002. I just returned from my first trip to China which included 4 days cruising through the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River. My good fortune was having this wonderfully and scholarly written book by Ms Chetham.

This book was invaluable to me because it gave me a full perspective of China, it's people, it's culture, and it's economic development. With this book as my traveling companion along with 43 good friends from San Francisco our group visited Beijing, Xian, Chongching,350 miles of the Yangtze River, Wuhan, Shanghai, & Souzhou. In each locale we had english speaking guides who were born and raised in the area. The combination of the local input, our observations, and readings from this book created a "trip of a lifetime" for me.

If you plan to visit China this book is a must. ... Read more

Book Description

"I knew the horses as I knew my family...When I was separated from them I felt wrong in the world. When I was separated from them I took no comfort in the sound of the creek. I felt chilled without the heat of them. In the short lulls between rides I leaned against the corrals, watching them roil like some captured pod of smallish whales, multi-colored, snorting at their handicapped buoyancy. When I stepped in among them, they would turn to me, roll their eyes until the whites showed, flick their ears. They were used to the sight and sound of me. I was the boy who straddled their hearts."

Ifthe West had a voice this is how it would sound. Passionate. Unequivocal. In the tradition of Ivan Doig's THIS HOUSE OF SKY, Mark Spragg's stunning collection, WHERE RIVERS CHANGE DIRECTION, renders an unforgettable story of an adolescence spent on the oldest dude ranch in Wyoming-a remote spread on the Shoshone National Forest, the largest block of unfenced wilderness in the lower forty-eight states.

In this sublime and unforgiving landscape, Spragg's distant and mercurial father, his emotionally isolated but resilient mother, his fierce and devoted younger brother Rick, and his mentor, a wry and wise cowboy named John, cleave to one another and to the harsh life they have chosen. Unrelenting winds, pitiless blizzards, muscular rivers--from these elements Spragg divines the universal yearnings for self-reliance, trust, acceptance, and love. WHERE RIVERS CHANGE DIRECTION illuminates the unexpected wisdom and irrevocable truth embedded in the small, but profound dramas of one boy's journey toward manhood. ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Wyoming, like no place on earth
The book was given to me as a gift, little did I know that I was about to relive my child hood, my youth, my fifty plus years on the high plains of Wyoming. The smell of horse farts in the early dawn, cold feet, till there is no longer pain. Getting a case of 22 shells for Christmas, birthday, and wearing out the gun . Mark has finnaly writen a book of "how the west is" at least the last 50 years. To see death as an almost constant player, hunting, calving, blizzards, drunk driving, fast cars, all part of Wyoming. The country school, first love, almost social retardation. 60 miles from town is a long way, few people can stand the loneness. Twenty years behind the times, still is a good place to be in 2000, May Mark Spragg share more of his life with us , in many more books to come,as his works touch a nerve few authors today can.

Spraggs book has something for everyone.
I will reccomend the book "Where rivers change direction" to all my friends. It is easy to read and at the same time extremely powerful. If he comes to your town for a book reading, go see him. Mark Spragg stories come to life when he reads them. I can hardly wait for November to see him at Aunties in Spokane.

Men & Horses: A fun and engaging romp growing up in Wyoming
Where Rivers Change Direction is the engaging story of Mark's journey to manhood on a working Wyoming dude ranch in the 1960's. This is a place outside the world of televisions and flashy cars. Life is his regular classroom, and a boy has to grow up quickly in order to endure and survive in the harsh realities of the wilderness. The responsibility that Mark both endures and earns for himself, gives him his character. It is easy to trust his voice and experiences, including the silent moments as he imagines himself as a horse alongside the other horses, testing his breath in the cold air. Mark's words match his imagination, giving us a taste of what it is like to be a horse in Wyoming. Rivers can change direction when dammed up by man, or they can follow the contour of the earth they cut through every day, changing themselves. The river of the title is about Mark's life, and this memoir leads just through the point where he changes direction. I wouldn't have missed a turn.

Superb!
I read Spragg's Fruit Of Stone and was disappointed with the silly plot. The writing, however, convinced me to try Where Rivers Change Direction. It is a magnificent book in all respects. Buy this book!

As Good as They Say
I read Spragg's novel, "Fruit of Stone," first, and was left rather cold. I'm glad I ventured forth with "Where Rivers Change Direction" because it is truly brilliant.

This is a writer who can burnish a sentence the way a saddlemaker polishes leather--the love of craft is obvious, and the end result is a quiet elegance that is breathtaking. He loves the passive verbs...so do I. The stately passivity take the wildness of ranch life from the hands of "action packed" Hemingway types and snares it in amber. Posterity over posturing? Sure, I'll take that!

He's capable of being thoughtful, brash, graphic, elegiac, and, at times, pretty funny. I adored "Wapiti School," wherein he nails Candy Dohse, his first true love, right on the forehead with a snowball during recess. He even put a pebble in the snowball first. Ah, young love!

There's no riders in purple sage, crazy saloon whores, shootouts, chuckwagons, or wacky Western shenanigans, and the "New West, worse than the Old West" place dysphoria/post-mod malaise is absent, as well. What you have instead is Spragg's life--from youth to maturity--carved away from the bone as if by a hunter's skilled hand. Okay, that was a (poor) attempt at a Spraggy sentence. So, don't read me...read him! ... Read more

Book Description

This definitive illustrated atlas of the Amazon River and its tributaries presents full-color maps and spectacular photosFrom headwaters high in the Andes the Amazon River flows more than 4,000 miles through the world’s greatest rainforest, into the Amazon delta, and finally into the Atlantic Ocean. More water moves through the Amazon than any other river in the world; it is a giant hydraulic system that drains almost 40 percent of South America. This extraordinary atlas is the first comprehensive view of not only the Amazon River but also its 13 major tributaries.

More than 150 color maps and nearly 300 vivid photographs provide spectacular views of the river and rainforest. Along the way, the authors explore many intriguing topics such as why some of the Amazon’s tributaries have black water, what happens when the freshwater of the Amazon reaches the salty ocean, and why we all should be concerned about the deforestation that contributes to the loss of species biodiversity.

Surely a benchmark in the rising fight for preservation of this mighty river, The Smithsonian Atlas of the Amazon will undoubtedly be the standard source for years to come. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

THE BEST ATLAS OF THE AMAZON AVAILABLE
The Atlas of the Amazon is the best comprehensive view of the many different natural and social aspects that emcompass the Amazon river basin. It does a thorough job of describing the natural environment and the differences between sub-regions.

Unfortunately, the entire Amazon is altogether too large and too diverse for a single volume such as this one, but I believe that it does reasonably well at condensing some of the main aspects and choosing specific themes to focus on. For example, the book focuses on the geology of the reason, explaining the differences in river color by showing the different origins of the rivers (there are yellow, black, green, and transparent waters). Additionally, the book singled out the lifecyle of local catfish, that crisscross the region by their feeding and breeding habits.

One of the outstanding qualities of this book is the images, which try to do justice to the beauty of the region. Through the pictures, one can tell the deep differences between the sub-regions; some are mountainous, some are planes, some are swamps, in some places the forest is denser, etc.

If you are planning a visit to the Amazon, or have a strong interest in the Amazonian ecosystem, this may be the best book available today. I strongly recommend it.

A must have atlas of the Amazon Basin
This is simply the best atlas I have ever reviewed on the subject of riverine hydrology, and presents the huge scope of the Amazon Basin (not just the river itself but all of the contributory watersheds)in a wonderful mix of maps, photographs and accompanying text. As an environmental engineer and scientist who routinely works with production of this type of document, I am very impressed with the level of detail, and the very reasonable cost of an atlas of such quality. If you are interested in the hydrology and ecosystems of the Amazon, this atlas is for you....

Good effort, but far from comprehensive
While thorough in some areas, such as its discussion of sedimentation and flow volume river by river, this atlas of the Amazon is sorely lacking in others. Some examples: while major tributaries are named, many large ones that are minor only by Amazonian standards are never named. Despite the fact that many maps cover significant mountainous areas, including the Andes, none of the maps are colored to show altitude, which would greatly help the reader in visualizing the direction and rate of riverine flow.

Too few cities are shown on the maps, and then only on some. Cities that are mentioned as being in a map area are sometimes not shown on the relevant map at all. Other items significant to an atlas are completely omitted. Areas used for cattle ranching, rice growing, etc., are mentioned, but there are no maps that delineate them. Such areas are only shown as "deforested". Important roads, such as Pucallpa-Lima, are not labeled. Important proposed roads are referred to, but their routes are not shown. With the exception of Macchu Picchu, important archeological sites are mentioned but not shown. Contentious oil discoveries are discussed, but their locations are not shown on any maps, nor are the relevant pipelines. On page 213, protected-reserved areas are shown via three separate maps, but the areas are not combined, which would give a clearer picture of how much of the region being discussed (Rio Negro) is actually under some form of protection.

Writing tends to the repetitious. Despite the biological diversity of the Amazon basin, virtually no photos of indigenous wildlife are included. Some photos look like low-rez digital shots that have been enlarged too much. A couple are notably blurry.
A useful reference book to be sure, but far from definitive. ... Read more

Book Description

Each time the waters of the mighty Mississippi River overflow theirbanks, questions arise anew about the battle between "man" and "river." How can weprevent floods and the damage they inflict while maintaining navigational potential andprotecting the river's ecology?

The design of the Mississippi and how it should proceed has long been a subject ofcontroversy. What is missing from the discussion, say the authors of this extraordinarybook, is an understanding of the representations of the Mississippi River. Landscapearchitect Anuradha Mathur and architect/planner Dilip da Cunha draw together an arrayof perspectives on the river and show how these different images have played a role inthe process of designing and containing the river landscape. Analyzing maps,hydrographs, working models, drawings, photographs, government and media reports,paintings, and even folklore, Mathur and da Cunha consider what these representations ofthe river portray, what they leave out, and why that might be. With gorgeous original silkscreen prints and a fine selection of maps, the book joins historic, scientific, engineering,and natural views of the river to create an entirely new portrait of the great Mississippi. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Luna Leopold: the godfather of hydrology.
This book is a must-have for your library if you will only have ONE book on freshwater hydrology. Leopold thoroughly explains the essential processes in a way that is clear and understandable. Also show ways to put this knowledge to work near your home. Reading this book is critical to your competent understanding of basic hydrologic processes, so you can be an intelligent consumer of the stuff put out by the mass media. Get it. Read it. Re-read it.

A scholarly, college level text.
Excellent, and up to date,overview of rivers and the hows' and whys' of their existence. Great book for a college course or to keep around for professional reference. Loaded with diagrams, well organized, and very comprehensive. Covers; river channels, measurement, flow, distribution of discharge, floods, hydraulic geometry, drainage networks, river morphology, sediment load, etc, etc. Includes just enough equations that are light to moderate in complexity, about college sophomore level. Moderately easy to read, but not for casual reading. Overall a super book for those who are interested in the "nuts and bolts" of how and why a river works.

A magnificent book for anyone interested in fluvial systems
This is one of the best books about river systems that I have yet read. The author covers the basics of fluvial hydrology and geomorphology as he explains what he has learned about rivers over his many years of study. Written for the general public the author speaks to you as a mentor, not a professor lecturing his students. Chapters cover the following topics: The river channel; River measurement; Meanders and bars; Distribution of discharge in space and time; Rivers of the world; Flow variability and floods; Relationships between channel and discharge; Hydraulic geometry; Sediment load; The drainage network; Energy utilization; River morphology - the most probable state. Each chapter could be the topic of a college-level symposium or course. The references include many classic USGS Professional Papers. As a geologist I have gained a deeper appreciation for fluvial systems and their deposits because of the material contained in this book. Any fluvial stratigrapher, sedimentologist, hydrologist or geomorphologist should have a copy of this book. I recommend it for anyone whose livelihood depends upon rivers as well as those who just want to learn why rivers behave as they do. C. J. Donofrio ... Read more

Book Description

Romance of Waterfalls uses art and poetry to present some of the most romantic sites in the world in one of its most beautiful places.The book is a comprehensive field guide to waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest with a full-page spread on each featured waterfall with a photo-like drawing of the falls, a poem, map, romance rating, viewing and kissing spots, accessibility, geographic and historical data, directions, distances, and times, and more.It includes chapters on weather, seasons, children, pets, safety, wildlife, native trees and plants, and more.Its design includes a detailed table of contents, nine waterfall chapters (marked by grey or black "tabs") beginning with a wide-area map and local info, an extensive index, and colophon.It's a beautiful book with everything you need for a romantic adventure at a waterfall. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Romance of Waterfalls is a unique and wonderful book!
Romance of Waterfalls is a unique book on the magnificent waterfalls within day-trip range of Portland, Oregon. The 252 page work combines the best of a hiking book, coffee table book, nature book, art book, and a work of poetry and literature.For each of its 100 featured waterfalls, it provides a photograph-like pencil drawing, complete directions, time and distance, map, description, nearby attractions, hazards, accessibility to the physically challenged, view and kissing spots, picnic areas, restrooms, historical trivia, and a poem. Introductory and reference sections offer advice on weather, children, pets, and safety, and information on local wildlife and plants, the Chinook language, and phone numbers for reservations, information, and emergencies. It contains 165 illustrations and 111 poems, all original works by the authors.This one of a kind book can be enjoyed year around by all families, couples, and individuals, it should be in the library of every resident and visitor to the Pacific Northwest. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Great Book! What a Find!
Picked up this book in a book store because I though it looked good. It was. I have to admit that I was already in the thrall of the scablands of eastern Washington but this book really brought it together. There is an interesting biographical drama as a separate story. The basin by basin description of the columbia valley that follows can be skipped over, used as a tour guide, or cherry picked. Or, like me, you can read every page. First go see the dry falls and the excellent interpretive center there with its satellite photographs and topographic maps. Then read this book and marvel at what Harlan Bretz was able see from eye level. You will never look at Eastern Washinton the same way again. A steal at ten bucks!

When I say Cata, you say Clysm...Cata,clysm. Cata,clysm
Ever driven down Highway 84 and been amazed by the scenery of the Columbia River?
Ever curious about how the Columbia became the Columbia?
Ever seen a giant bolder in the Willamette Valley and wondered how it got there.
Can you imagine the sea level four hundred feet above Portland?
You think you know, but you have no idea.
Until you read this book! (Or hear about it from a friend.)

A very good tour book
This book excellently explains why the eastern half of the State of Washington and the lower Columbia valley are so curiously carved. It also shows how a truly observant scientist works, even though his vindication may be slow in coming. While some persons might wish for more color photographs, I believe the black and white format, particularly in the Grand Coulee region, better shows the power and scope of the floods that carved these otherworldly channels from bare lava rock. The drawing of a typical Bretz flood has to be seen firsthand to be believed. Another exemplary book on the geology of the West. Don't see Grand Coulee or the Columbia Gorge without reading this book.

good book
I've lived in the Walla Walla River Basin for a little over a year. After reading this book, the surrounding area became more alive. This book tells of fascinating events that took place several thousand years ago that created many of the local landmarks. It makes my travels more interesting and personal as I recognize features described in this book. If your a highly educated geologists searching for some real meat, this book is not for you. For the rest of us, this book is written in easy to understand terms. If you live in the Northwest, it's a must read.

Great story, flawed book
I'd like to give this book a higher rating, but I can't. Great subject, should be brought to the attention of everyone even vaguely interested in the forces that shape our landscapes, and a fascinating account of the Bretz "saga". Like Wegener, Bretz was ridiculed in his time for his outlandish theories; unlike Wegener, he lived long enough to see his theories dramatically confirmed. On a recent trip to the US I had the opportunity to drive across WA, ID, and MT, and was entranced by the coulees, Dry Falls, the scablands, and the stranded lake shores above Missoula.

So what's my gripe? Simply that, while the authors have done a commendable job of making the whole story accessible to lay readers, they haven't really done their subject the treatment it so richly deserves. The writing (shared by three authors) is uneven, tends to be repetitious, and would have benefited from tighter editing. The chapters describing Bretz and his battles with the geological establishment are the best and most readable; those describing the details of the post-flood geomorphology (sensibly ordered from Lake Missoula to the sea) are more ponderous. The photos are also a big disappointment - I would happily have paid extra for a book with up to date and well-produced colour photos, rather than the grainy monochromes which have been used throughout. Buy the book, marvel at the story, and imagine what it would have been like to watch the floods from a secure piece of high ground, but keep your eyes open for the day when the authors (or someone else) produce a livelier and more readable update. ... Read more

Book Description

Explains the physical, chemical, and biological needs of trout, and shows how climate, geology, vegetation, and flowing water all help to create trout habitat. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Better Trout Habitat: A guide to Stream Restoration and Mana
This book provides an in depth review of the methods and techniques used to provide habitat characteristics to a variety of streams. The writting style is excellent for both the lay reader as well as someone with a scientific back ground. However, it does not dwell on some fot the more technical details which requires a more technical level book to provide more indepth details. However, as a general manual to habitat resoration it provides an excellent background as well as the necessary caution needed when conducting these types of instream restoration projects.

Good Trout Habitat and Life Cycle Reference
This book offers a good variety of man-made trout improvement structures, but the current (2000) state-of-the art in trout habitat improvement trends toward a more natural, vegetation and channel reconstruction approach. This book provides excellent design guidelines and background information on trout and their life cycle, and perhaps the most useful part of this book was the author's ability to teach the reader enough about the habitat requirements of trout to allow the reader some latitude and innovation with their habitat improvement designs.

I personally enjoyed the workable, readable and philosophical approach to fish habitat improvement, and I believe that this book would be a good reference for anyone who wishes to improve trout habitat.

Remember, an ounce of habitat preservation is better than ten pounds of habitat restoration efforts! (Also, the information in this book will help the reader become a more effective trout fisherman!) ... Read more

Book Description

Everyone can now enjoy the magic of waterfalls – this guidebook leads the way. Reaching them can be an easy drive-by, a short walk, or a challenging hike. Spend a hot summer day getting your feet wet walking a rocky creekbed to sit in the spray of a waterfall. Return during different seasons and watch each waterfall’s personality change. The adventures are almost endless.

This map-filled guidebook shows:

* Where to find waterfalls

* When and where to go for best viewing

* The time & effort required to reach each waterfall

Why delay? Begin exploring these beautiful waterfalls today. Central and Western New York has an abundance of waterfalls awaiting your discovery. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A highly practical vacationer's guide
200 Waterfalls In Central & Western New York is an especially well organized and presented recreational guide to a dazzling, beautiful, sometimes unexpected but always memorable assortment of natural waterfalls in the New York area. Maps, directions, time and effort required to reach them, as well as the distinctive features of each waterfall are listed in this handy, convenient and highly practical vacationer's guide. If you are an outdoor enthusiast and planning to travel through the central and western regions of New York State, then begin planning your excursion's daily itinerary by browsing through the pages of Rich and Sue Freeman's 200 Waterfalls In Central & Western New York.

A Must-Have Finger Lakes Guide Book
Rich and Sue Freeman have come out with another must-have Finger Lakes guide book. This one, called "200 Waterfalls in Central & Western NY," is a well-done guidebook of accessible waterfalls complete with driving directions, access trails and photographs. Their descriptions include information and some historical notes. Whether a year round resident with out of town visitors or a summer resident, you will find this book a fine reference for area waterfalls. Mark this book as a good gift too.
Leona Jensen, The Observer

Dazzling Waterfalls - Midwest Book Review
"200 Waterfalls in Central & Western NY" is an especially well organized and presented recreational guide to a dazzling, beautiful, sometimes unexpected but always memorable assortment of natural waterfalls in NY. Maps, directions, time and effort required to reach them, as well as distinctive features of each waterfall are listed in this handy, convenient and highly practical vacationer's guide. If you are an outdoor enthusiast and planning to travel through the central and western regions of New York State, then begin planning your excursion's daily itinerary by browsing through the pages of Rich & Sue Freeman's "200 Waterfalls in Central & Western NY."
The Midwest Book Review - Buhle's Bookshelf ... Read more

Book Description

North America's freshwater habitats and the extraordinary biodiversity they contain are facing unprecedented threats from a range of sources, including flow alteration, habitat fragmentation, introduced species, and overall land use changes. With nearly every freshwater system suffering from some degree of degradation and conservation resources limited, there is an urgent and practical need to set priorities.

As an initial step in identifying those areas where protective and restorative measures should be implemented first, World Wildlife Fund-US assembled a team of leading scientists to conduct a conservation assessment of freshwater ecoregions. Freshwater Ecoregions of North America presents that assessment and outlines measures that must be taken to conserve, and in many cases restore, native biodiversity. The book:

• identifies freshwater ecoregions that support globally outstanding biological diversity
• assesses the types and immediacy of threats to North American ecoregions
• identifies gaps in information that hamper an accurate evaluation of biodiversity
• provides a broad-scale framework for conservation activities

In addition, it offers appendixes that provide detailed descriptions of methodologies, raw scores and statistical analysis of results, and an integrated biological distinctiveness and conservation status index. Also included are 21 full-color maps.

Freshwater Ecoregions of North America is an authoritative reference on a subject of vital importance, and will be an essential tool for scientists, conservation professionals, students, and anyone interested in the conservation of North America's freshwater systems. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Green Lantern...
In the sphere of the social sciences, a long standing bias has existed against the so-called "natural sciences:" the lack of rhetorical power, and more simply, of terminological variability, has turned away sociologists, anthropologists, and historians from the literature of natural science. This bias is evident, but at base, irrational, at least by the uniform standards for scholarship that transcends disciplines. After all, the sociologist cannot simply write-off the work of the economist, just because of language.

This important work, although highly priced, must be read by social scientists as well as by natural scientists. Editor Robin Abell, with her talented staff at WWF-USA, have put together an inherently readable account of what "ecoregions" are threatened, while enumerating the attributes and possible threats to these areas. A reader, like myself, who knows little about such things , is sure to find themself surprisingly drawn to what otherwise seem like trivialities. For example, the consistent format of the volume, from section to section, provides the reader with a template, or general design, by which whole areas of geography can be understood.

And this understanding goes past the parochial association of one region with the "political unit" it is found in.

The title of this mini-review was not only meant to be teasing: it is my hope that more writers and editors adopt the style that Abell et al. have established. Perhaps then important subjects like this can climb closer to the center of the public conscience.

Insightful New Approach
The first approach anywhere that looks not only at scale of biodiversity loss and priorities for conservation for our often over-looked freshwater resources. This book is essential for anyone who truly cares about North America's diverse natural habitats.

The maps in the book are wonderful. They effectively convey areas which are spectacular and also the areas that are most threatened. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent and exhausting history of the Battenkill
This is sure to be the definitive piece of work on the Battenkill. The author went to great lengths to document the river's history and it has an extensive bibliography. Perhaps most interesting is the peeling away of the layers of the Battenkill's mystique of fly fishing. I particularly enjoyed the stories about Charle