Lifelines: The Case for River Conservation

The health of our nation is reflected in the health of our rivers. These flowing streams supply our drinking water and they sustain the biological wealth of the continent. Central to our past and vital to our future, rivers are the lifelines, yet they are constantly under siege. In Lifelines, Tim Palmer addresses the fate of our waterways. While proposals for destructive federal dams are no longer common, and some of the worst pollution has been brought under control, myriad other concerns have appeared-many of them more complex than threats of the past. Now we face increased diversion of flows, loss of riparian habitat, and pollution from toxic waste, feedlots, farms, and clearcuts. Palmer examines the alarming condition of rivers in today's world and reports on what people are doing to solve the challenging problems. In many stories of hope, he chronicles the success of citizens and government agencies working for better stewardship and pioneering new ways of caring for our waters and land. Finally, he considers what the future will hold for these critical lifelines. According to Palmer, caring for rivers as centerpieces of local ecosystems marks a hopeful starting point toward better care for the planet.

Lifelines chronicles the value of rivers, documents the modern day problems affecting them, and reports on key solutions for better stewardship.

Library Journal

Intending to fill the gap between his previous books, Endangered Rivers and the Conservation Movement (LJ 2/15/87) and The Wild and Scenic Rivers of America (LJ 8/93), Palmer presents the ``fundamental case for the preservation and intelligent management of our rivers.'' With 24 years of experience in river conservation, Palmer is passionate in his attempt to increase our awareness; he uses many examples and statistics to stress the importance of rivers and the threats they face. He covers issues such as the salmon population (the only endangered species that can be bought in the grocery store), water quality, hydropower, riparian habitats, and ecosystems. Although the number of statistics makes reading somewhat tedious, this book is recommended for larger public as well as academic environmental collections.-Teresa Berry, Univ. of Tennessee Lib., Knoxville

Tim Palmer has been involved in river protection since 1970 as a writer, photographer, planner, conservationist, speaker and consultant. He is the author of 14 books on rivers and conservation, and speaks frequently to college classes and public audiences nationwide.