Includes bibliographical references (p. 277-295) and index.

Hope and hopelessness -- To have and have not -- The Aral experiment -- Rising temperatures, falling water? -- Aversion to diversion -- Battle lines and skirmishes -- Reversing a river -- Long Lac and Ogoki -- Pleasing Pleasant Prairie -- Sacrificing Lowell -- Tapping Mud Creek -- Akron gets the nod -- New rules of engagement -- The Nova group and Annex 2001 -- Marching toward a compact -- Waukesha worries -- Who will win the war? "The Great Lakes are the largest collection of fresh surface water on earth, and more than 40 million Americans and Canadians live in their basin. Will we divert water from the Great Lakes, causing them to end up like Central Asia's Aral Sea, which has lost 90 percent of its surface area and 75 percent of its volume since 1960? Or will we come to see that unregulated water withdrawals are ultimately catastrophic? Peter Annin writes a fast-paced account of the people and stories behind these upcoming battles. Destined to be the definitive story for the general public as well as policymakers, The Great Lakes Water Wars is a balanced, comprehensive look behind the scenes at the conflicts and compromises that are the past-and future-of this unique resource."--Publisher's website. Publisher description for The Great Lakes water wars / Peter Annin. The Great Lakes are the largest collection of fresh surface water on earth, and more than 40 million Americans and Canadians live in their basin. Will we divert water from the Great Lakes, causing them to end up like Central Asia's Aral Sea, which has lost 90 percent of its surface area and 75 percent of its volume since 1960? Or will we come to see that unregulated water withdrawals are ultimately catastrophic? Peter Annin writes a fast-paced account of the people and stories behind these upcoming battles. Destined to be the definitive story for the general public as well as policymakers, The Great Lakes Water Wars is a balanced, comprehensive look behind the scenes at the conflicts and compromises that are the past-and future-of this unique resource.