Building the Ultimate Dam: John S. Eastwood and the Control of Water in the West

by Donald C. Jackson

A nicely illustrated account of how Eastwood battled government bureaucrats, corporate patrons, and fellow hydraulic engineers to build 17 dams in the western US during the early 20th century based on his innovative multiple-arch design. Also explores the economic role of dams in the dry region, the technical and historical aspects of dams and water, the theory and practice of dam design, and the fate of the design after Eastwood. Includes a glossary without pronunciation. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

432 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 1995

Reviews

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent book for anyone interested in the history of the mountains around Fresno, hydroelectric power, or early power-politics in California. It’s a bit dry at points, but it also makes the reader aware at the beginning that the text is intended to be more academic in its analysis of Eastwood and his dams.

[Squeaky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not used to reading non-fiction, so this was a hard slog, but it was extremely interesting, especially since there is one of his dams about a mile away. I spent a LOT of time looking at the dams mentioned in the text, just roaming around Google Earth.