Powell to Powell: Portraits of the Upper Colorado River

Filmmakers Will Stauffer-Norris and Zak Podmore chronicle their four-month 2012 odyssey from Lake Powell in Colorado's Rocky Mountain National Park to another Lake Powell, this one formed by the Glen Canyon Dam on the Utah-Arizona border. The two companions walked, kayaked, and rafted along the vast and mighty Colorado River in order to see how well the liquid carver of the Grand Canyon is meeting the tremendous demands put upon it, including serving the needs of 30 million people (and counting), plus agriculture, delicate ecosystems, and recreation. Along the way, the pair speak with farmers, ranchers, water managers, conservationists, and others who offer various perspectives. Viewers will learn that high up in the river system, some 60 percent of the water is diverted to the Denver area, where it is used for watering lawns in an arid climate, among other things. The river comprises just 3 percent of Colorado's land mass but supports a huge percentage of its wildlife, although many species have been negatively impacted or even eradicated by changes over the years. On their way downstream, the duo pass fracking operations, which re-use the water extracted from the river, loading it with noxious chemicals that can seep into a declining water table. Once they reach lower Lake Powell, the filmmakers launch an experimental craft powered by solar cells, which creeps slowly across the vast reservoir. Offering a brief scenic introduction to a beautiful area beset by serious environmental challenges, this is recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Gardner)