Colorado Experience: Western Water—and Power

Ever since Western settlers dreamed of deserts in bloom, men have chased the mirage of more water than these arid lands can provide. “Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting” describes the urgent struggle every generation of Coloradans faces to control this fleeting resource—creating hydrodynamic history through structures that can propel water to run uphill toward money, and power.

[brucehutch]

A major example of a version of water diversion is the engineering of the Chicago River from it's drainage into Lake Michigan and reverse it to drain into the Mississippi River to serve Chicago for sewage and Commercial navigation.

[maxasaurus]

9:46 wow he’s 100% spot on, I’m from Roaring Fork/ Frying Pan river valley and only rarely thought of it as Eagle/Pitkin/Garfield county. Bravo PBS!

[rminhas]

Amazing program. It makes you wonder about the alterations to hydrology that were made and the effects they had. Surface and groundwater issues we are now seeing. The ecological plant and animal communities that have shifted as a result, such as the rich fens and riparian habitats. The effect that mining might have played, and also communities on either side of the slope. The future of Colorado!

[adventureswithhurt]

I went to Western and Mesa had both Schultz and Vandenbusch as professors. They both seen i was a dumb tired jock and made me drop their history classes. After that we had a mutual respect for one another. They wernt going to let me sit in a class and fail. Both these guys are walking encyclopedias. Top notch Drs.

[pikeywyatt]

have been watching R M PBS for a short time, i like the videos i see.have just subscribed, look forward to more excellent videos thanks from east sussex uk.

[kerrymarris]

At least Colorado is letting y'all leave a comment. Until the last drop.california doc.vidio about water won't.

[scotcoon]

If it's wetter than normal when we find it, it's not a drought when it returns to normal.

[IEchuckie]

I never knew how much water eastern Colorado took from the western slopes and for how long it's been doing it.

[jongarrison]

Amazing program!! Wish I could have seen all of these projects/construction in person but this amazing footage makes me feel as if I am there. RMPBS has gained another subscriber.

[JoshMattson]

Really cool history. Makes me happy to be a part of it at Shoshone!

[bennmacstiofan]

We are about to rewrite water laws all over the West. We need to start prioritizing "food" water over landscape water, getting rid of coal water, and making existing agriculture more drought tolerant, and water efficient.

[terriniemeier]

I would love to see open lands for People wherever our water can be found

[CryingIsntAnOption]

Powell.... oh Sir, I wish we had listened to you.

[karenshroyer]

I don't mind Denver using our water.But not to give it to California.Which has sebveral desalination plants that they haven't used.This water, could help people in the other states.If Dubai can do it, we can too.

[markcantemail]

I rode thru the Moffitt Tunnel twice and saw Estes or Winter Park .  You can only see so much from the Train and I thought the ride up was my piece of the Front Range . I have Driven over and been thru Grand Junction more than a couple times .  I never knew so much water was diverted thru the Front Range .  I have seen dry Rivers in Arizona  so have been exposed  to some of this . Living in the East this is an eye opener, thank you for the Video .     Plan 2014 has been Bypassed and the St Law Seaway will not open till April First this year .   Lake Ontario is Too high for the 3rd year . They have to let some out . All of these plans and Compacts do not always Work the way  it was thought they would .

[ItIsJustKetchup]

I am very interested in the ditch projects and their history in Boulder County, so this is super interesting. Thanks for putting this all together.

[granskare]

My son lived near Denver and that side did need water. We took a day tour and saw the Moffet tunnel. We had to wait for a coal train so we missed basic snow board training.

[roberthurley]

Lakes in the west are going dry and were trying to figure out what to do! the answer is right

[DramaMustRemainOnTheStage]

I didn't realize this was a live. Sorry I missed it.

[colomtnhigh]

Really interesting, thank you for putting us together. All of these projects unfortunately create unnatural results: people and crops where they should not be.