Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects Honors Program 5-2007 From Exile to Eden Confronting Myth and Water Crises in a Desert Landscape Erica Cottam Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honors Part of the American Studies Commons Recommended Citation Cottam, Erica, "From Exile to Eden Confronting Myth and Water Crises in a Desert Landscape" (2007). Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects. 690. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honors/690 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Honors Program at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. FROM EXILE TO EDEN CONFRONTING MYTH AND WATER CRISES IN A DESERT LANDSCAPE by Erica Cottam Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of HONORS IN UNIVERSITY STUDIES WITH DEPARTMENTAL HONORS in American Studies in the Department of English Approved: Thesis/Project Advisor Departmental Honors Advisor Dr. Paul Crumbley Dr. John McLaughlin Director of Honors Program Dr. Christie Fox UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, UT Spring 2007 Cottam 1 Abstract Citizens of Washington County are about to face serious water shortages that time honored myths imposed on the landscape during the pioneer era will make difficult to confront. Biblical views of the desert as undesirable wilderness drove early Mormon settlers to create an Edenic oasis. Twenty-first century residents believe the desert has been conquered and no longer poses a threat , a myth that allows for aesthetic appreciation of the landscape but also supports extravagant use of water for recreation and development.