Jim O’Donnell brings us through time exploring history and ecology through the eyes of a single river with Fountain Creek: Big Lessons from a Little River! O’Donnell’s approach instantly fascinated me as he walks through centuries of use, abuse, and attempted conservation of this little watershed. As someone who grew up walking the trails along this very river, it was interesting to me to see just how much life was lived along Fountain Creek, and just how alive the river itself is. O’Donnell explores the various peoples who have used the river, the poisoning, damming, and destruction of the river throughout time, and the push to protect this precious water source in a time when modern cities are rapidly growing around it. Even though it focuses on a very small part of the watershed in Colorado, the book has a wider scope that connects to our world at large and preserving the nature within it. If you’re looking for an interesting analysis of a river, history, and conservation that reads fresh and closer to a novel, definitely come dive in with Fountain Creek: Big Lessons from a Little River!
