Book SummaryThe Emerald Mile, by Kevin Fedarko

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Emerald Mile

In The Emerald Mile (2013), Kevin Fedarko tells the story of a record-breaking speed run through the Grand Canyon during the 1983 flood. The book follows three river guides—Kenton Grua, Rudi Petschek, and Steve Reynolds—as they navigate the Colorado River in a wooden dory called the Emerald Mile. The book also explores the history of the Colorado River, the construction of the Glen Canyon Dam, and the environmental impact of damming the...

The Emerald Mile Summary The 1983 Flood: Engineering and Emergency at Glen Canyon Dam

Fedarko explains that a massive El Niño event in 1983 caused an unprecedented emergency at Glen Canyon Dam. The dam held back water from a 108,000-square-mile area, and the floodwater came in quicker than it could be released through the dam. Although the structure had an emergency bypass, the tunnels weren't tested. When they were used, shockwaves eroded the concrete lining and laid bare the sandstone walls to the river's full force. The water exiting the tunnels carried debris, including pieces of concrete, rebar, and boulders. For weeks, the dam operators continuously operated the power plant, pushing the turbines and generators to their limits and transferring the surplus electricity to the grid.

(Shortform note: Fedarko describes the “shockwaves” that eroded the concrete lining of the emergency bypass tunnels, but he doesn’t explain how this process works. According to fluid mechanics researchers and technical books, when water flows at extremely high speeds, it can create tiny vapor bubbles or cavities. When these bubbles move into areas of higher pressure, they collapse violently, creating intense...

The Emerald Mile Summary The Emerald Mile and the Spirit of the River

Next, we’ll discuss the conservation efforts that have helped preserve Grand Canyon National Park.

Competing for the Spirit: Defiance, Conservation, and Legacy

Fedarko asserts that the Grand Canyon is a treasured national site, and its preservation is a significant conservation victory.

(Shortform note: Not everyone agrees that the Grand Canyon’s preservation as a national site was a significant conservation victory. In American Indians and National Parks, Robert H. Keller and Michael F. Turek explain that many Havasupai leaders view the creation of Grand Canyon National Park as the culmination of a long history of federal policies that transformed their ancestral homelands into a recreational landscape controlled by outside authorities.)

Here, we’ll explore the run’s symbolism and legacy.

The Run as Symbol and Legacy

Fedarko argues that the speed run became a symbol of unity and legacy for the river enthusiasts. It was viewed as honoring the Colorado River’s majesty and protesting the way it had been harnessed and sold. It also demonstrated the capabilities of a compact, solid-hulled vessel. No one using a...

Shortform Exercise: The 1983 Flood at Glen Canyon Dam

Explore the engineering and environmental challenges faced during the 1983 flood at Glen Canyon Dam.

What engineering challenges did the operators at Glen Canyon Dam face during the 1983 flood?