The price of taming a river : the decline of Puget Sound's Duwamish/Green waterway

The historical puzzle that is the Green River and its drainage basin, from Mount Rainier to Puget Sound, is carefully pieced together in this portrait of the people, events, and dramatic forces that have determined the fate of this once-powerful river. Beginning in the early years of this century, the Duwamish/Green waterway was rechanneled, dredged, dammed, and diked in an attempt to prevent flooding and salvage land for agriculture and industry. The taming of the river made a valuable stretch of land usable year-round but the consequences have been pollution and the destruction of the habitat it once provided for fish, shellfish, and wildlife. Ranging from prehistoric times to the present, from geologic forces to political and economic battles, The Price of Taming a River shows clearly what has been lost but also tells the compelling story of the individuals and communities who are working to restore and preserve the watershed. It is a story of small places and large issues, of bitter controversy and quiet victories, which presents a vision of what can be accomplished by those who choose to embrace their role as stewards of the river.… (more)