Conversation between integration rivers
Answers
Explanation:
My daily routine is nothing special; I wake up, turn on the tap to fill a glass of water and brush my teeth. On my way to work, I pass by Cherry Creek and the South Platte as I navigate Denver traffic. Throughout the day, I snack on fruits and vegetables to nourish my body, and as each day comes to a close, there is nothing I enjoy more than a chilled beer or glass of wine.
Besides the daily repetition, what else connects these different parts of my life?
Rivers.
Whether you realize it or not, rivers are entwined in nearly every aspect of our lives. So much of what we do, eat, wear, and use depend on rivers and the water flowing through them. There is a deep connection between our society and rivers, one that can be hard to comprehend. While enjoying rivers and water has long been a part of my identity, it wasn’t until college that I truly appreciated the complicated relationship and power that rivers hold on me.
Growing up along Lake Michigan, water never seemed scarce; it was everywhere. After college, my journey to the western US changed my perspective. I saw and began to realize the difference between managing abundant water versus managing water limited by scarcity. Here in Colorado and throughout the Colorado River Basin, our livelihood depends on these arteries – rivers – that crisscross the region supporting economic, social, and environmental values.