Examines the creation, characteristics, and tribulations of the first United States National Recreation Area. It also addresses the National Park Service's historic role in managing reservoir-based recreation in a uniquely arid region. Jonathan Foster's examination reveals an increasingly anxious relationship between the government, the public, and special interest groups in the American West.

Jonathan Foster received his PhD in history from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. His research interests include the history of water-based recreation, the Civilian Conservation Corps, and the American conceptualization of place. Foster is currently a professor of history at Great Basin College in Elko, Nevada, where he teaches courses on U.S. history, environmental history, modern Nevada, and history of the American West. He also serves as program supervisor for the Bachelor of Arts in Social Science degree.