Synopsis
The author of Jupiter's Travels describes the remarkable environmental campaign that pitted him and his followers against some of the most powerful political forces in California as they struggled to stop the creation of a vast reservoir. 25,000 first printing. Tour.
Reviews
In the late 1960s, the Dos Rios Dam on the Eel River was the largest proposed water project in California. Simon ( Jupiter's Travels ) shows that before the environmental movement was launched, in a state seemingly controlled by water interests and governed by Ronald Reagan, only the relentless efforts of one person, wealthy rancher Richard Wilson, derailed the building of the Dos Rios Dam and by so doing redefined California's environmental agenda. "Largely as a result of Richard's energy and determination, it was never again possible for a major water project to be planned in California without the environmental and social cost being evaluated first." The specifics of the battle to defeat the Eel River proposal are nicely set within the broader context of Southern California's thirst for the north's water. Simon handles the historical chapters in a much drier fashion, however, which considerably slows this otherwise fast-paced book. Photos not seen by PW. Author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Simon (Jupiter's Travels, 1980) chronicles the David-and- Goliath struggle over the fate of a California river valley. Back in the mid-1960s, the Army Corps of Engineers targeted Round Valley in Northern California for inundation. The purpose was flood control on the Eel River, the corps claimed, thinly disguising their mission to send water south to the thirsty (and politically powerful) ranchers of the San Joaquin Valley. California's Department of Water Resources and the Metropolitan Water District, bureaucratic bullies used to getting their way, also liked the idea. The future looked bleak for the pretty, classically proportioned valley, with its cozy sense of place and sedate country pace. But Richard Wilson wasn't happy about the prospect of his farm lying under 300 feet of water, his valley just another notch on the corps's belt. So he engaged the behemoths in battle. It didn't hurt that Wilson had a hefty bankroll he could dip into whenever needed or that he could turn to friends like Dean Witter (yes, the investment house really is named after one person) and Ike Livermore, then-governor Reagan's close adviser. But why quibble? Wilson's cause was just and his instincts true--dams aren't worth their salt when it comes to flood control, as a presidential commission has just recently confirmed. In the end, after much blood, sweat, and tears (and a healthy dose of good luck), Wilson brought the arrogant agencies and bureaucracies to their knees. Simon's reporting of the fight is well paced for all its detail, although much of the deep background material could have been left on the editing floor without hurting the story. An immensely gratifying tale in which small-town America gives its comeuppance to a bloated, blustering federal agency with a self-appointed mission to subdue nature. (Photos, not seen) (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
Simon (Jupiter's Travels, LJ 2/15/80) tells the story of Richard Wilson, the man who led the fight against the Dos Rios Dam project in California in the 1960s. He follows the controversy from beginning to end, offering views of both major and minor contributing personalities (e.g., Ronald Reagan). Although Simon provides an overabundance of background information before reaching the essence of the controversy, his conversational style makes this complicated affair involving and accessible to the reader. Still, a chart with agencies and agency personnel would have helped in keeping track of key players, and while adequate maps are essential to understanding this affair, the maps were unavailable for review. Although Simon's bias is clear, he succeeds in illuminating all sides of California water issues. Despite its deficiencies, this book is recommended for libraries serving patrons interested in Western water and environmental issues.
Jeanne Davidson, Augustana Coll., Rock Island, Ill.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
The story of the fight to stop the building of a dam in northern California. The struggles occur on many levels for Richard Wilson, who decides in 1967 that plans to turn the Round Valley into a large reservoir must be stopped. At first, he and others see such plans as another of the many "crazy water schemes" that the water-starved West regularly created. By the time he and his companions realize that the state and the Army Corps of Engineers are serious, it's almost too late. His story is the story of how one man fights for those things "elemental" to us all--love, honor, family, and the land--and the personal costs of engaging in such a battle. Interestingly, Simon doesn't seem to understand how "elemental" self-interest is, for all sides, in the compelling story he narrates. Brian McCombie
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