Patrick Dearen, winner of the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America and member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, is an authority on the Pecos and Devils Rivers and the author of ten nonfiction books and twelve novels, including The Big Drift, The Illegal Man, To Hell or the Pecos, and Crossing Rio Pecos.

“Bitter Waters is full of facts and numbers but is a comfortable read. As author Patrick Dearen shows, the current and future demands on the Pecos will most likely bring on some great challenges.”—Rick Tate, Texas Commissioner, Pecos River Commission “A thought-provoking study. To all who realize that water will be more priceless than gold, this is a must-read.”—Ray Willis, New Mexico Commissioner, Pecos River Commission “Bitter Waters offers an artesian well of information that will captivate the leisurely and scholarly-minded reader alike. From rich descriptions of the river's ecology and geomorphology to colorful narratives of its present-day apologists and adversaries, author Patrick Dearen gives a clear-eyed and unfettered picture of the river's historical and contemporary struggles. Whether you worry about the future of our wild things and wild places, depend upon the river for your land or your livelihood, or simply care for a tough old, meandering river that has loomed large in the history and settlement of the West, this book needs to be at the top of your reading list.”—Carter Smith Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Patrick Dearen, winner of the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America and member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, is an authority on the Pecos and Devils Rivers and the author of ten nonfiction books and twelve novels, including The Big Drift, The Illegal Man, To Hell or the Pecos, and Crossing Rio Pecos.

“Bitter Waters is full of facts and numbers but is a comfortable read. As author Patrick Dearen shows, the current and future demands on the Pecos will most likely bring on some great challenges.”—Rick Tate, Texas Commissioner, Pecos River Commission “A thought-provoking study. To all who realize that water will be more priceless than gold, this is a must-read.”—Ray Willis, New Mexico Commissioner, Pecos River Commission “Bitter Waters offers an artesian well of information that will captivate the leisurely and scholarly-minded reader alike. From rich descriptions of the river's ecology and geomorphology to colorful narratives of its present-day apologists and adversaries, author Patrick Dearen gives a clear-eyed and unfettered picture of the river's historical and contemporary struggles. Whether you worry about the future of our wild things and wild places, depend upon the river for your land or your livelihood, or simply care for a tough old, meandering river that has loomed large in the history and settlement of the West, this book needs to be at the top of your reading list.”—Carter Smith Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

Patrick Dearen, winner of the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America and member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame, is an authority on the Pecos and Devils Rivers and the author of ten nonfiction books and twelve novels, including The Big Drift, The Illegal Man, To Hell or the Pecos, and Crossing Rio Pecos.

“Bitter Waters is full of facts and numbers but is a comfortable read. As author Patrick Dearen shows, the current and future demands on the Pecos will most likely bring on some great challenges.”—Rick Tate, Texas Commissioner, Pecos River Commission “A thought-provoking study. To all who realize that water will be more priceless than gold, this is a must-read.”—Ray Willis, New Mexico Commissioner, Pecos River Commission “Bitter Waters offers an artesian well of information that will captivate the leisurely and scholarly-minded reader alike. From rich descriptions of the river's ecology and geomorphology to colorful narratives of its present-day apologists and adversaries, author Patrick Dearen gives a clear-eyed and unfettered picture of the river's historical and contemporary struggles. Whether you worry about the future of our wild things and wild places, depend upon the river for your land or your livelihood, or simply care for a tough old, meandering river that has loomed large in the history and settlement of the West, this book needs to be at the top of your reading list.”—Carter Smith Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department