Books

General

Introduction to Water in California by David Carle- This book rocks! Not only is it super informative, Carle makes it inspiring with quotes from literature and naturalists like John Muir and Mark Twain. Makes you love water.

The Water Atlas: A Unique Visual Analysis of the World’s Most Critical Resource by Robin Clarke and Jannet King

Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner- I’ll be reading this one soon. A look at water politics in the American West. Looks like its gonna be a hard-hitter.

Governing the Commons: The Evolution of Institutions for Collective Action by Elinor Ostrom- by the winner of the Nobel Prize in Economic in 2009, this book is high on my to read list. Ostrom studies how different local communities around the world have managed common pool resources sustainably over time.

Water Saving Farming Techniques

Gaia’s Garden by Toby Hemenway- For a look inside the permaculturist’s view of the world, read this. Also contains practical info water-saving techniques for your garden and home.

How to Grow More Vegetables…(Growing biointensive) by John Jeavons

Historical

The Ohlone Way: Indian Life in the San Francisco/Monterey Bay Area by Malcolm Margolin and Michael Harney

Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge and the Management of California’s Natural Resources by M. Cat Anderson

Documentaries/Movies

Chinatown, 1974, Jack Nicholson- If you’d like to dip your toes into some of California’s ugly past with water politics in a mellow sorta movie-watching way, watch this.

Saving the Bay, PBS- a four part series on the history of the San Francisco Bay. Very interesting section on time in the 1960s when a plan was afoot to fill in the bay almost completely.