A Watershed Moment

The American West is portrayed as a place of rugged landscapes and endless opportunity. But the land is fragile, resources are finite, and space is at a premium. The essays of A Watershed Moment explore the tensions between a culture rooted in endless growth and personal freedom and the ecological, economic, and social constraints set by community values and the land itself. As Westerners come up against these limits, these essays highlight issues of sustainability central to the region’s future and to the nation’s as a whole.

The contributors are policymakers, government employees, land and water managers, urban planners, biologists, tribal members, writers, and academics from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. The result is a compelling vision of place-based, policy-oriented sustainability across the West.

Details and to Order

Cover of A Watershet Moment, TheAmerican West in the Age of Limits

Mark Udall

For those of us who love the West and are concerned about its future, A Watershed Moment has arrived at the right moment. It is chock full of provocative, insightful, and timely essays. Wallace Stegner challenged us to build communities to match our landscapes. A Watershed Moment shows us the route to craft Stegner’s vision.

Mark Udall, US Senator

Kevin Dahl

A wonderful collection of thoughtful essays that give a wide, deep, and perspective-expanding view of the choices facing people who call the Intermountain American West home. Get the expert take from scholars, elected officials, and community leaders who work in this place at this critical watershed moment.

Kevin Dahl, Vice Mayor, City of Tucson

Dennis Glick

Local officials and activists should not feel alone in confronting the challenges facing our communities. A Watershed Moment offers relevant case studies and lessons learned that provide a solid foundation for crafting actions appropriate to the setting. It should be required reading for all of us who love the Intermountain West.”

Dennis Glick, retired Northern Rockies conservation advocate

Doug Wachob

A compendium of essays on conservation and community issues of the West has been sorely needed. This is an effective text for natural resource students, resource managers, and the general public alike.

Doug Wachob, Haub School of Environment & Natural Resources, University of Wyoming (retired)

David Rich Lewis

A significant contribution that presents a variety of voices and disciplinary perspectives on issues of community planning, development, and resource use.

David Rich Lewis, Department of History, Utah State University

Stephanie Kessler

A Watershed Moment will inspire you to think deeply and creatively about our region’s growth challenges. The essays are a treasure trove of history, story-telling, lessons learned, and insights that will enlarge the toolbox for action

Stephanie Kessler, Conservationist, former wilderness guide and county commissioner — Wyoming

Press

> Apr. 17, 2025: Alan Prendergast reviews the book at Rocky Mountain Reader. “A new collection of essays,A Watershed Moment: The American West in the Age of Limits attempts to confront many of the most pressing problems [of the New West] and propose solutions—or at least a path forward.”

> Mar. 21, 2025: Mason Osgood at KOTO: Telluride Community Radio interviews Robert Frodeman and Evelyn Brister, “Authors explore a modern American West.” Audio and transcript available here (starts at 3:44).

> Feb. 21, 2025: Jenna McMurtry at KHOL: Jackson Hole Community Radio interviews Robert Frodeman on “Making the case for limits in the Mountain West,” Audio available here.

> Dec. 16, 2024: In Yellowstonian: A Voice for Wilderness, read an excerpt on wildfire from Paul Roger’s chapter in A Watershed Moment. The excerpt is titled “When a Community Stands in Defiance—not Defense—of Nature.”

> Dec. 12, 2024: Utah Public Radio’s Matthew LaPlante interviews author Paul Rogers on the Undisciplined podcast. Paul talks with him about how “We Probably Can’t Prevent Forest Fires. So What Can We Do Instead?“

> Nov. 21, 2024: Video of the University of Utah Press Book Launch sponsored by the Wallace Stegner Center at the S. J. Quinney School of Law. Speakers included Bob Keiter, Evelyn Brister, Seth Arens, Bonnie Baxter, and Robert Frodeman. View it here.

> Nov. 12, 2024: In Yellowstonian: A Voice for Wildness, Todd Wilkinson asks “Where Does the West Go From Here?” and discusses limits to growth with book editor Robert Frodeman. Read it here.

> Nov. 5, 2024: Utah Public Radio’s Tom Williams interviews book editor Robert Frodeman about housing and other issues affecting Western communities, including the need for interdisciplinary and cross-sector solutions. Listen here.

Events

University of Wyoming

Date: November 18, 2024

Time: 4:00 pm - 5:15 pm

Location: Berry Center Auditorium in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming

Editors

Robert Frodeman writes on environmental philosophy, science and technology policy, and the future of the university.

Contact Robert at [email protected]

Evelyn Brister is a professor of philosophy at Rochester Institute of Technology and works on environmental justice and conservation policy.

Contact Evelyn at [email protected]

Luther Propst is an elected county commissioner in Teton County, Wyoming. He founded the Sonoran Institute in 1991 and served as executive director until 2012.