Crossing the Next Meridian
Land, Water, and the Future of the West
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
In Crossing the Next Meridian, Charles F. Wilkinson, an expert on federal public lands, Native American issues, and the West’s arcane water laws explains some of the core problems facing the American West now and in the years to come. He examines the outmoded ideas that pervade land use and resource allocation and argues that significant reform of Western law is needed to combat desertification and environmental decline, and to heal splintered communities.
Interweaving legal history with examples of present-day consequences of the laws, both intended and unintended, Wilkinson traces the origins and development of the laws and regulations that govern mining, ranching, forestry, and water use. He relates stories of Westerners who face these issues on a day-to-day basis, and discusses what can and should be done to bring government policies in line with the reality of twentieth-century American life.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Legal scholar, environmentalist and author of The Eagle Bird, Wilkinson explicates basic environmental issues being faced in the American West. Natural resources, he contends, are controlled by laws, policies and regulations that, formed in the 19th century, do not embrace today's economic trends, scientific knowledge and social values. Wilkinson cites five particular areas requiring reform: the Hardrock Mining Law (1872), public rangelands, forest lands, dams and energy development. Reviewing the history and practice of Western laws and regulations, he describes their practice in specific cases today and discusses possible solutions. Wilkinson advocates that the West give up its reliance on extractive industries and pursue instead the promise of an economy based on recreation and tourism. This important study should be read by lawmakers at every level of government.
