The Continental Compact

IAN CAINE EMILY CHEN University of Texas at San Antonio TIFFIN THOMPSON DEREK HOEFERLIN Washington University in St. Louis PABLO CHAVEZ

The drought crisis in is first and fore- 3 types of hydro-urbanisms leverage existing price tag associated with infrastructural most a political crisis. Decades of public policy water resources to create a conurbation at the obligations. have created a system of massive water con- scale of the river basin. Locally, each responds veyance, fostering and maintaining a funda- to the specific characteristics of its riverine, Current 2050 growth projections in the U.S. mental misalignment between the supply and geographic and landscape environment. The don’t factor what will likely become the most demand of water. The untenable status quo in hydro-urbanisms are capable of accommodat- critical determinant of successful urban- California is maintained through an elaborate ing diverse programs including agriculture, ism: water supply. The Continental Compact slew of public policies, designed to support residential, ecology, industry, recreation and re-directs growth from Mega-regions to a system of water-trading between western tourism. Hydro-regions, investing in water-rich urban states in areas like the River Basin. conurbations built around dams, rivers and The Continental Compact replaces hydraulic deltas. The Compact re-invests the massive The Continental Compact proposes to funda- urbanism with hydrological urbanism. Simply resources that currently support the con- mentally alter the culture of water-trading: re- put, the Continental Compact stops moving struction and operation of aqueducts into the legislating water distribution, first in California water to the people and starts moving people construction of new infrastructure to support and ultimately throughout the , to the water. The Continental Compact incen- water-rich sustainable urbanism. Canada and Mexico. The new laws will be tivizes a series of Hydro-regions, each leverag- based on four principles: Don’t transfer water. ing a piece of new infrastructure in an existing Do guide population growth to water. Do water basin. The resulting megalopolis allows allow regions to shrink by attrition. Do return new water-rich urbanism to grow over a the river to its natural course. period of one hundred years. Conversely, it allows existing water-poor urbanism in Los California has maintained itself through an Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix, elaborate mechanism of water conveyance and Denver to slowly shrink via attrition. The via aqueducts for decades. Unfortunately, positive environmental and financial benefits the financial and environmental costs of this of the revised policy will be significant, saving strategy are high. Currently the financial costs energy, reducing carbon emissions, slowing are being borne by the State and Federal gov- subsidence, lowering infrastructure costs, and ernments, while the environmental costs are regenerating California’s deltas. simply externalized, thereby delaying and intensifying their impact. This is an infrastruc- The history of Westward Expansion in the tural shell game that California cannot win. United States was an epic success, leveraging cheap land and abundant natural resources The Continental Compact provides a long- to grow the country. Things are very differ- term solution to the contradiction that is ent today: land is expensive, resources are California, incentivizing urbanism in water- scarce, and state and federal governments rich basins near dams, rivers and deltas. The are increasingly unable to afford the spiraling

11 Shaping New Knowledges THE CONTINENTAL COMPACT CRISIS. The drought crisis in California is first and foremost a political crisis. Decades of public policy have created a system of massive water conveyance, fostering and maintaining a fundamental misalignment between the supply and THE CONTINENTAL COMPACT demand of water. The drought crisis in California is first and foremost a political crisis. Decades of public policy have created a system of massive water conveyance, fostering and maintaining a fundamental misalignment between the supply and demand of water. The untenable status quo in California is maintained through an elaborate slew of public policies, designed to support a system of water- trading between western states in areas like the Basin.

The Continental Compact proposes to fundamentally alter the culture of water-trading: re-legislat- ing water distribution, first in California and ultimately throughout the United States, Canada and X Mexico. The new laws will be based on four principles: Don’t transfer water. Do guide population growth to water. Do allow regions to shrink by attrition. Do return the river to its natural course. X California has maintained itself through an elaborate mechanism of water conveyance via aque- ducts for decades. Unfortunately, the financial and environmental costs of this strategy are high. Currently the financial costs are being borne by the State and Federal governments, while the environmental costs are simply externalized, thereby delaying and intensifying their impact. This is an infrastructural shell game that California cannot win.

The Continental Compact provides a long-term solution to the contradiction that is California, incentivizing urbanism in water-rich basins near dams, rivers and deltas. The 3 types of hydro- California Aqueduct Image: Dept. of Water Resources. 01 LA Aqueduct Image: Center for Land Use Interpretation 02 urbanisms leverage existing water resources to create a conurbation at the scale of the river basin. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS Locally, each responds to the specific characteristics of its riverine, geographic and landscape The Law of The RiveRs. The of 1922. The BouLdeR Canyon pRojeCT aCT of 1928. CaLifoRnia seven paRTy COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER agReemenT of 1931. mexiCan waTeR TReaTy of 1944. uppeR CoLoRado Basin CompaCT of 1948.CoLoRado RiveR sToRage pRojeCT of environment. The hydro-urbanisms are capable of accommodating diverse programs including TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE 1956. The v CaLifoRnia u.s.. supReme CouRT deCision of 1964. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin pRojeCT aCT of 1968. The CRiTeRia foR RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN CooRdinaTed Long-Range opeRaTion of CoLoRado RiveR ReseRvoiRs of 1970. minuTe 242 of The u.s.-mexiCo inTeRnaTionaL BoundaRy agriculture, residential, ecology, industry, recreation and tourism. THE LAw Of THE RIvER. The untenable status quo in California is maintained through an elaborate slew of THETHE RIVE CRON TO TITINENS COURTSEAL. DONCOMPA’T TRANSFECT proposesR WATER. toDO fundamentally GUIDE POPULAT IONalter TOWA the RcultureDS WAT EofR. water-trading:DO ALLOW REGIONS re-legislating TO SHRINK waterBY ATTR ITION. DO and waTeR Commission of 1973. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin saLiniTy ConTRoL aCT of 1974. The Law of The RiveRs. The CoLoRado RiveR public policies, designed to support a system of water-trading between western states and Mexico in areas like the REdistribution,TURN THE RIVE firstR TO inIT S CCaliforOURSEnia. DON and’T ultimately TRANSFER WAthroughoutTER. DO GUIDE the UnitedPOPULA TStates,ION TOWA CanadaRDS WA andTER. Mexico. DO ALLOW The REGIONS new compact TO SHRIN K BY ATTRITION. CompaCT of 1922. The BouLdeR Canyon pRojeCT aCT of 1928. CaLifoRnia seven paRTy agReemenT of 1931. mexiCan waTeR TReaTy of DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY The Continental Compact replaces hydraulic urbanism with hydrological urbanism. Simply put, 1944.Colorado uppeR CoLoRado River Basin. Basin CompaCT of 1948.CoLoRado RiveR sToRage pRojeCT of 1956. The aRizona v CaLifoRnia u.s.. supReme CouRT will be based on four principles: deCision of 1964. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin pRojeCT aCT of 1968. The CRiTeRia foR CooRdinaTed Long-Range opeRaTion of CoLoRado ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO the Continental Compact stops moving water to the people and starts moving people to the RiveR ReseRvoiRs of 1970. minuTe 242 of The u.s.-mexiCo inTeRnaTionaL BoundaRy and waTeR Commission of 1973. The CoLoRado RiveRSH RINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW Basin saLiniTy ConTRoL aCT of 1974. The Law of The RiveRs. The CoLoRado RiveR CompaCT of 1922. The BouLdeR Canyon pRojeCT aCT ofR EGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO water. The Continental Compact incentivizes a series of Hydro-regions, each leveraging a piece 1928. CaLifoRnia seven paRTy agReemenT of 1931. mexiCan waTeR TReaTy of 1944. uppeR CoLoRado Basin CompaCT of 1948.CoLoRado ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. of new infrastructure in an existing water basin. The resulting megalopolis allows new water-rich RiveR sToRage pRojeCT of 1956. The aRizona v CaLifoRnia u.s.. supReme CouRT deCision of 1964. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin pRojeCT DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS aCT of 1968. The CRiTeRia foR CooRdinaTed Long-Range opeRaTion of CoLoRado RiveR ReseRvoiRs of 1970. minuTe 242 of The u.s.- WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION urbanism to grow over a period of one hundred years. Conversely, it allows existing water-poor mexiCo inTeRnaTionaL BoundaRy and waTeR Commission of 1973. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin saLiniTy ConTRoL aCT of 1974. The Law TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE of The RiveRs. The CoLoRado RiveR CompaCT of 1922. The BouLdeR Canyon pRojeCT aCT of 1928. CaLifoRnia seven paRTy agReemenT ofPOPU LATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO urbanism in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Denver to slowly shrink via at- 1931. mexiCan waTeR TReaTy of 1944. uppeR CoLoRado Basin CompaCT of 1948.CoLoRado RiveR sToRage pRojeCT of 1956. The aRizona GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. trition. The positive environmental and financial benefits of the revised policy will be significant, v CaLifoRnia u.s.. supReme CouRT deCision of 1964. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin pRojeCT aCT of 1968. The CRiTeRia foR CooRdinaTed DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER Long-Range opeRaTion of CoLoRado RiveR ReseRvoiRs of 1970. minuTe 242 of The u.s.-mexiCo inTeRnaTionaL BoundaRy and waTeR WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T saving energy, reducing carbon emissions, slowing subsidence, lowering infrastructure costs, and Commission of 1973. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin saLiniTy ConTRoL aCT of 1974. The Law of The RiveRs. The CoLoRado RiveR CompaCT TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. of 1922. The BouLdeR Canyon pRojeCT aCT of 1928. CaLifoRnia seven paRTy agReemenT of 1931. mexiCan waTeR TReaTy of 1944. uppeR DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS regenerating California’s deltas. CoLoRado Basin CompaCT of 1948.CoLoRado RiveR sToRage pRojeCT of 1956. The aRizona v CaLifoRnia u.s.. supReme CouRT deCision COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER of 1964. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin pRojeCT aCT of 1968. The CRiTeRia foR CooRdinaTed Long-Range opeRaTion of CoLoRado RiveR TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE ReseRvoiRs of 1970. minuTe 242 of The u.s.-mexiCo inTeRnaTionaL BoundaRy and waTeR Commission of 1973. The CoLoRado RiveR RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN The history of Westward Expansion in the United States was an epic success, leveraging cheap Basin saLiniTy ConTRoL aCT of 1974. The Law of The RiveRs. The CoLoRado RiveR CompaCT of 1922. The BouLdeR Canyon pRojeCT aCT ofT HE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO land and abundant natural resources to grow the country. Things are very different today: land is 1928. CaLifoRnia seven paRTy agReemenT of 1931. mexiCan waTeR TReaTy of 1944. uppeR CoLoRado Basin CompaCT of 1948.CoLoRado RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. RiveR sToRage pRojeCT of 1956. The aRizona v CaLifoRnia u.s.. supReme CouRT deCision of 1964. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin pRojeCT DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY expensive, resources are scarce, and state and federal governments are increasingly unable to af- aCT of 1968. The CRiTeRia foR CooRdinaTed Long-Range opeRaTion of CoLoRado RiveR ReseRvoiRs of 1970. minuTe 242 of The u.s.- ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO mexiCo inTeRnaTionaL BoundaRy and waTeR Commission of 1973. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin saLiniTy ConTRoL aCT of 1974. The Law SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW ford the spiraling price tag associated with infrastructural obligations. of The RiveRs. The CoLoRado RiveR CompaCT of 1922. The BouLdeR Canyon pRojeCT aCT of 1928. CaLifoRnia seven paRTy agReemenT ofR EGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO 1931. mexiCan waTeR TReaTy of 1944. uppeR CoLoRado Basin CompaCT of 1948.CoLoRado RiveR sToRage pRojeCT of 1956. The aRizona ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. v CaLifoRnia u.s.. supReme CouRT deCision of 1964. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin pRojeCT aCT of 1968. The CRiTeRia foR CooRdinaTed DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DOgovernor RETURN TbrownHE RIVE 2020R TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS Current 2050 growth projections in the U.S. don’t factor what will likely become the most critical Long-Range opeRaTion of CoLoRado RiveR ReseRvoiRs of 1970. minuTe 242 of The u.s.-mexiCo inTeRnaTionaL BoundaRy and waTeR WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION Commission of 1973. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin saLiniTy ConTRoL aCT of 1974. The Law of The RiveRs. The CoLoRado RiveR CompaCT TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE determinant of successful urbanism: water supply. The Continental Compact re-directs growth of 1922. The BouLdeR Canyon pRojeCT aCT of 1928. CaLifoRnia seven paRTy agReemenT of 1931. mexiCan waTeR TReaTy of 1944. uppeR POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO from Mega-regions to Hydro-regions, investing in water-rich urban conurbations built around CoLoRado Basin CompaCT of 1948.CoLoRado RiveR sToRage pRojeCT of 1956. The aRizona v CaLifoRnia u.s.. supReme CouRT deCision GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ADTTRONITION’T transfer. DO RET UwaterRN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. of 1964. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin pRojeCT aCT of 1968. The CRiTeRia foR CooRdinaTed Long-Range opeRaTion of CoLoRado RiveR DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRguideITION population. DO RETURN growth THE RIVE towardsR TO ITS waterCOURSE. DON’T TRANSFER dams, rivers and deltas. The Compact re-invests the massive resources that currently support the ReseRvoiRs of 1970. minuTe 242 of The u.s.-mexiCo inTeRnaTionaL BoundaRy and waTeR Commission of 1973. The CoLoRado RiveR DO WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINallowK BY AregionsTTRITION to. DO shrink RETU RviaN TattritionHE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. DON’T construction and operation of aqueducts into the construction of new infrastructure to support Basin saLiniTy ConTRoL aCT of 1974. The Law of The RiveRs. The CoLoRado RiveR CompaCT of 1922. The BouLdeR Canyon pRojeCT aCT ofTR ANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONSDO TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE RIVER TO ITS COURSE. 1928. CaLifoRnia seven paRTy agReemenT of 1931. mexiCan waTeR TReaTy of 1944. uppeR CoLoRado Basin CompaCT of 1948.CoLoRado DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLDOWO RreturnEGIONS the TO river SHRIN toK BitsY AnaturalTTRITION course. DO RE TURN THE RIVER TO ITS water-rich sustainable urbanism. RiveR sToRage pRojeCTPresident of 1956. Truman The aRizona 1949 v CaLifoRnia u.s.. supReme CouRT deCision of 1964. The CoLoRado RiveR Basin pRoje03 CT COURSE. DON’T TRANSFEJerryR WA TBrownER. DO 2020GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETUR04N THE RIVER aCT of 1968. The CRiTeRia foR CooRdinaTed Long-Range opeRaTion of CoLoRado RiveR ReseRvoiRs of 1970. minuTe 242 of The u.s.- TO ITS COURSE. DON’T TRANSFER WATER. DO GUIDE POPULATION TOWARDS WATER. DO ALLOW REGIONS TO SHRINK BY ATTRITION. DO RETURN THE

GROUND wATER CRISIS. This taxonomy of California water basins illustrates the existing lack of equilibrium, as a CONvEyANCE. So just how has the system maintained itself? Simple: through an elaborate mechanism of water CONSEqUENCES. Subsidence. Degradation. Energy.

relatively low % 1of local demand is being met by existing ground water. This arrangement, which barely works now, conveyance via aqueducts. California has transferred and imported water for decades. Unfortunately, the costs of this

Californiawill ultimately fail. strategy are high. sub-Basins 2 2 1 Continental Divide saCrameNto Continental Divide North river SUBSIDENCE IN 3 Coast UT 3 WY 50% OF CENTRAL CA NV CO North VALLEY LohoNtaN Salt Lake City 5,200 sq. miles Rocky Rocky subsided at least 1 Mountains USA Mountains USA foot by 1977 pop: 33,014 Denver

pop: 2,925,642 pop: 615,903 5 Reno-Tahoe saN JoaquiN river

5 4 Sierra Sierra Nevada saN FraNCisCo Bay 8 Mountains Mountains 4 NM San Francisco DELTA Colorado River Colorado River DEGRADATION AZ 7 pop: 6,380,825 salt water creeps 6 pop: 2,243,892 COLORADO inland as sea levels 7 RIVER BASIN rise and aqueducts tuaLare Lake 8 Las Vegas draw water south 6 LohoNtaN Albuquerque CeNtraL Coast 10

Pacific Ocean Pacific Ocean Los Angeles Phoenix 20% OF CA 9 ELECTRICITY pop: 2,238,014 pop: 934,037 pop: 1,527,398 USED FOR WATER San Diego Tucson 9 10 water-energy nexus: Conveyances Tijuana south Coast CoLorado river water related Major Rivers energy use equals Population 48 Twh/year Groundwater Gulf of California MEXICO Water Use pop: 21,932,478 pop: 724,081 05 06 MEXICO 07

DAMS, RIvERS AND THE DEATH Of HyDRAULIC URBANISM. The Continental Compact replaces hydraulic urbanism with hydrological HyDRAULIC URBANISM HyDROLOGIC URBANISM The Continental urbanism. Simply put, the Continental Compact stops moving water to people and starts moving people to water. DELTAS. AtmosphereAtmosphere Precipitation Compact provides a Precipitation (Fresh) Mountains long-term solution to the contradiction that is California, incentivizing urbanism in water-rich basins near dams, rivers run-off + Melt and deltas. The 3 types of The WATer CYCLe hydro-urbanisms leverage existing water resources to create a conurbation at the scale of the river basin. Dam Urbanism Locally, each responds to evaporation Centripetal in morphology, embracing and utilizing the existing the specific characteristics multi-purpose dams and reservoirs, Colorado River providing localized hydropower. and of its riverine, geographic water supply for concentrated large and landscape populations. river (Fresh) environment. The hydro- urbanisms are capable of river Urbanism Linear in morphology, beginning at accommodating diverse tributary confluences, paralleling and working with the flows of rivers, programs including providing diverse mixes of urban, suburban and rural densities for agriculture, residential, dispersed populations. ecology, industry, recreation and tourism. Delta (Brackish) Delta Urbanism Ocean (Salt) Branched in morphology, growing with the natural distributive flows of a fanning deltaic context over time, providing gradients of high and dry occupations along distributaries and Gulf of low, wet occupations in brackish California marshes. MEXICO GGroundwaterroundwater Flow Flow 08 CUT THE AqUEDUCTS 09 10

THE BIRTH Of THE HyDRO-REGION. The Continental Compact incentivizes a series of Hydro-regions, each leveraging a piece of new infrastructure in an existing water basin. The resulting megalopolis allows new water-rich urbanism wESTwARD ExPANSION. The history of Westward Expansion in the United States was an epic success, leveraging to grow over a period of one hundred years. Conversely, it allows existing water-poor urbanism in Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Phoenix, and Denver to slowly shrink via attrition. The positive environmental and financial cheap land and abundant natural resources to grow the country. benefits of the revised policy will be significant, saving energy, reducing carbon emissions, slowing subsidence, lowering infrastructure costs, and regenerating California’s deltas.

Fontelle Dam

Flaming Gorge Dam

Concentrate future population growth in hydro-regions Taylor Park Dam

San Francisco Colorado River Navajo Dam 12 Las Vegas

EASTwARD MIGRATION? Things are very different today: land is expensive, resources are scarce, and state and federal governments are increasingly unable to afford the spiraling costs associated with infrastructural obligations. Albuquerque

Davis Dam

Los Angeles Phoenix

San Diego Mexicali Dam urbanism Tijuana Urbanism River urbanism

Delta urbanism Gulf of California MEXICO 11 13

MEGA-REGIONS 2050. Current 2050 growth projections in the U.S. don’t factor what will likely become the most HyDRO-REGIONS 2050. The Continental Compact shifts future population growth from Mega-regions to Hydro- GO wEST, yOUNG MAN > GO EAST, yOUNG PEOPLE. “The Mississippi Basin or Great Lakes might be a place critical determinant of successful urbanism: water supply. regions, investing in water-rich urban conurbations built around dams, rivers and deltas. The Compact re-invests the to live in. The rents are not so high, the food is not bad, the dust is not disgusting and the morals are less than massive resources that currently support the construction and operation of aqueducts into the construction of new deplorable. Go East, young people, go East and grow up with the country.” (2015 Interpretation) of Emmanuel Leutze’s, infrastructure to support water-rich sustainable urbanism.

14 15 www.historynet.com 16

Architecture in an Expanded Field The Continental Compact 12