The Colorado

Wednesday, August 17 at 7 p.m.

For five million years the Colorado River has carved some of the most majestic landscapes on the planet. It has also become the lifeline of a vast portion of North America, providing the water that sustains nearly forty million people, a half dozen major cities, and an immense agricultural empire. Because of these demands, the river is so overused and overcompromised that it no longer flows to the sea or nourishes its delta.

Narrated by stage legend and Academy Award-winner Mark Rylance, “The Colorado” takes viewers on a free-flowing journey through the river’s diverse history. From the earliest settlements in the region to the impact of climate change today, the documentary tells the stories of European and Anglo-American explorations in the 18th and 19th centuries, the dam-building era and its consequences, agriculture and immigration, and the fate of the river’s delta in Mexico. The Grammy-winning vocal ensemble Roomful of Teeth, cellist Jeffrey Zeigler (Kronos Quartet), and composer-percussionist Glenn Kotche (Wilco) perform the film’s exhilarating score.

Select this program when you support Arizona PBS and get the DVD/BluRay and hardback book.