Lows and Highs Waterman finds out just how low the water can go when he crosses into Mexico. A few days in, the river dries up. His raſt grounds in a scum of pollution. Gross, he thinks. He wades through foamy mud. He


shouldn’t have. T e dirty water infects his feet. Within days, they swell. It’s too painful to walk. Waterman can’t go on. Despite seeing signs of trouble along the


way, he saw signs of hope, too. People have restored wetlands, or swampy areas, along the river. Wetlands create habitats for many animals. He saw elk, wading birds, and even a ringtail cat. Parts of the river are healthy. Waterman took his trip to show what


people are doing to the Colorado River. He wanted to make a diff erence. You can, too. Learn about where your water comes from. How much do you use? Every drop counts.


WORDWISE


climate change: change in weather patterns


headwaters: beginning and upper part of a river


hydroelectric power: electricity produced by the force of moving water


strata: layer of rock To learn more, go to:


nationalgeographic.com/ environment/freshwater.


In Mexico, the river ends in mud, foam, and trash.


MAY 2011 23


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