In Not So Golden State, leading environmental historian Char
Miller looks below the surface of California's ecological history to
expose some of its less glittering conundrums. In this necessary book,
he asks the tough questions as we stand on the edge of a human-induced
natural disaster in the region and beyond. He details policy steps and
missteps in public land management, examines the impact of recreation on
national forests, parks, and refuges, and assesses efforts to restore
wild land habitat, riparian ecosystems, and endangered species.
Why, during a devastating five-year drought, Miller asks, is the Central
Valley's agribusiness still irrigating its fields as if it's business as
usual? Why are northern counties rich in groundwater selling it off to
make millions while draining their aquifers toward eventual mud? Why,
when contemporary debate over oil and gas drilling questions reasonable
practices, are extractive industries targeting Chaco Canyon National
Historic Park and its ancient sites, which are of inestimable value to
Native Americans? How do we begin to understand "local," a concept of
hope for modern environmentalism?
To inhabit a place requires placed-based analyses, whatever the
geographic scope--examinations that are rooted in a precise, physical
reality. To make a conscientious life in a suburb, floodplain, fire
zone, or coastline requires a heightened awareness of these landscapes'
past so we can develop an intensified responsibility for their present
condition and future prospects.
Miller explores these issues and more in Not So Golden State, and
understanding them will be critical in our creation of more resilient,
habitable, and equitable communities for California's future.
