After decades of drought, the American West is stretched to the breaking point. A changing climate and design flaws in the Glen Canyon Dam have pushed the once-massive Lake Powell reservoir to the brink of collapse—putting millions of people at risk who depend on the Colorado River for water, agriculture, and electricity. Now, as Glen Canyon reemerges, its surprising ecological rebirth reminds us that nature’s capacity to heal may well outpace our own imaginations. In this presentation, environmental journalist Zak Podmore will discuss his book Life After Dead Pool, which explores the complex challenges ahead and reframes the inevitable loss of Lake Powell as a turning point for a more sustainable future, debunking the notion that the West’s water challenges are unsolvable, and inviting us to secure a future where the Colorado River once again runs free.

Presentations are Wednesdays at 6 pm at the Third Street Center in Carbondale, CO, and Thursdays at 6pm at Hallam Lake, in Aspen, CO. Please register.