AllMovie

On the heels of the announcement that mankind has entered what some scientists call a "100 year mega-drought," the producers of Everest and Mystery of the Nile invite viewers to explore the efficient ways in which Native Americans once used the Colorado River without sacrificing the scenic land that surrounds it. Few would deny that fresh water is perhaps the world's most precious resource, yet the way things are headed we may lose that resource sooner than we think. Now, environmental activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Wade Davis attempt to raise awareness about global water issues by embarking on a breathtaking river-rafting adventure down the mighty Colorado River. The Colorado Delta has dried up, yet people in seven states and two countries use the water of the Colorado River for agricultural purposes every day; many never realizing precisely where their water is coming from. Is it possible to balance the needs to man with the needs of Mother Nature? And is it realistic to think that we can provide fresh drinking water to everyone on the planet? As the viewer follows these fearless adventurers down the Colorado River, we learn about not only the history of this particular watercourse, but also how mankind may best contend with dwindling water supplies should the ominous warnings issued by environmental scientists truly come to pass.