Riverine Dreams Away to the Glorious and Forgotten Grassland Rivers of America

About this book

The inspirational story of grassland rivers – and the people who paddle and protect them.

The North American grasslands that once covered vast areas of the central United States are now its most endangered ecosystems. But not far from any spot in the grasslands is a river. Grassland rivers are as central to the story of prairies as bison and bluestem. Defined as rivers that drain prairie watersheds, these waterways are crucial to plains ecosystems and no less endangered than the grasslands surrounding them. They are also enigmatic: some are restricted by local access laws and others have simply been forgotten. In any given year, fewer than a dozen people might lay eyes on tens of thousands of miles of America's grassland rivers. But, as environmental writer George Frazier shows, following their twists and turns is one of the best ways to experience the wild essence of the prairies.

Riverine Dreams invites us on a trip along eight grassland rivers – including the Missouri, the Niobrara, and Purgatoire – traversing their environmental and cultural histories and introducing us to the people who study, paddle, and conserve them. This journey takes Frazier across the North American interior – from Montana and Colorado to Nebraska and Missouri – where he uncovers a remarkable movement to celebrate and preserve these natural treasures: nothing less than a grassland river revival.

The first accessible introduction to these waters, Riverine Dreams is a personal exploration of the rivers that are so vital to the health of the prairies.

Contents

Author's Note

1. Riverine Dreams
2. Missouri
3. Grand
4. Kaw
5. Purgatoire
6. South Platte
7. Niobrara
8. Misery

Acknowledgments
Appendix A: Grasslands and Rivers Without End
Appendix B: MR340 Equipment and Supply Checklist
Notes
Selected Bibliography
Index

Customer Reviews

Biography

George Frazier is the author of The Last Wild Places of Kansas: Journeys into Hidden Landscapes. He lives in Lawrence, Kansas, with his wife and daughter.