Arid Ambition: Conquering the American Desert 1 Arid Ambition - Part 1: John Wesley Powell and the Folly of Settlement 2 Arid Ambition - Part 2: The Syndicate That Stole a River 3 Arid Ambition - Part 3: The Gods of Concrete and the Pork Barrel 4 Arid Ambition - Part 4: Teton and the Price of Engineering Hubris 5 Arid Ambition - Part 5: The Mirage of Augmentation and the Looming End ← Series Home The promise of the American West, founded on water scarcity, found its ultimate expression in concrete and steel. Early 20th-century engineers did not merely manage water; they embarked on a massive, zealous effort to redirect natural forces. When archaeologists from another planet sift through our civilization’s remains, they might conclude that our temples were dams. These formidable structures, constructed with exquisite care, will likely outlast skyscrapers and cathedrals. The completion of Hoover Dam on the Colorado River was the first global signal of this new era. The dam, which rises 726 feet (221 m) tall, gave engineers the confidence to conquer nearly all the world’s great rivers.
...
