A watershed moment : the American West in the age of limits

"The American West is often portrayed in the cultural imagination as a place of rugged, unending landscapes. The land is more fragile and resources more finite than popular perceptions acknowledge. This compilation of essays, A Watershed Moment, reveals tensions between a culture of economic growth and the ecological, economic, and social constraints set by community values and the land itself. As westerners and their communities come up against limits, the volume editors shine a spotlight on issues of sustainability endemic to the region. The volume presents practical approaches to land use, land management, and planning with rich philosophical perspectives on justice, quality of life, and sustainability in the American West. The contributors are policymakers, government employees, land and water managers, urban planners, biologists, tribal members, writers, and academics from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The result is a compelling portrait of place-based, policy-oriented sustainability in the region."