The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?

We’d like to thank those organizations who helped us achieve the "Roll Out" of our new documentary.

The Southern Nevada Water Authority

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

American States Water Company

Imperial Irrigation District

California American Water

They have our great appreciation for their kind support.

The California Water Association, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and Southern Nevada Water Authority announce a groundbreaking collaboration about the American Southwest’s water crisis.

The documentary is narrated by Jane Seymour.

Nearly every state in the American Southwest is affected by a water crisis and is struggling with record dry conditions. On the heels of the American Southwest’s drought, and in an effort to raise awareness, The Chronicles Group with support from grants from the California Water Association, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Southern Nevada Water Authority and other public and private entities, Vegas PBS will present “The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?” directed, written, and produced by Jim Thebaut, president of The Chronicles Group, a Los Angeles based non-profit public information/education film production company.

Featuring narration from Emmy® Award-winning actress Jane Seymour, “The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?” is a definitive look at how the water crisis affects the American Southwest states and its escalating economic toll.

From the White House to the House of Representatives, Jim Thebaut interviews key thought leaders for an intelligent and informed discussion about the evolving water crisis. Thebaut filmed at diverse locations including the Navajo and Hopi reservations, on Capitol Hill and in Las Vegas for an absorbing and contemplative discussion about conservation, water reuse, desalination, unprecedented population growth and future water policies. Interviews with key members of Congress include Sens. Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Ken Salazar (Colo.), and Pete Domenici and Jeff Bingaman (N.M.), and U.S. Reps. Mary Bono (Palm Springs) and Jim Costa (Fresno). An interview with Dr. Gene Whitney, science advisor to President Bush, also is featured in this impartial and balanced documentary.

“The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?” gives audiences an in-depth awareness and education of the water crisis in the United States. Viewers learn about land use planning and the water needs of cities in the Southwest, and how climate change may impact water levels on vital sources such as Lake Powell, Hoover Dam’s Lake Mead, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta system, the Rio Grande and the Colorado River.

Pat Mulroy, who as general manager oversees operations of the Las Vegas Valley Water District, which serves more than 300,000 customers, and the Southern Nevada Water Authority, responsible for acquiring, treating and delivering water to local agencies that collectively serve 1.8 million residents and nearly 40 million annual visitors, says, “While the challenges posed by acute water shortages are becoming increasingly apparent throughout our nation and the world, we in the American Southwest have for some years now witnessed the impact of climate change as we work to stretch a limited resource to meet the needs of a growing population. With this film, Mr. Thebaut aptly portrays how we in the desert southwest are working to surmount the obstacles. Hopefully, other regions around the world can build on our experiences to confront their own water-scarcity crises.”

Timothy Brick, chairman of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, says “Metropolitan is proud to be part of this important project. The challenges we face in meeting water needs of the Southwest are great and education is the first step. This film plays a vital role in communicating the seriousness of the challenge in showing people there are solutions and we are addressing those solutions for the future. Jim Thebaut has awakened and activated a large audience about the scale of the global water problem. We are convinced that this film focusing on the Southwest is equally significant.”

Vegas PBS General Manager Tom Axtell says, “Our station is dedicated to making scientific concepts and public policy accessible to all citizens. This project is another example of our commitment to work with community organizations to discuss these issues. We are delighted to be involved in a multi-state, multi-station project that explores the critical issue of water in the Southwest.”

The project follows on the heels of Thebaut’s groundbreaking and critically acclaimed 2005 documentary, Running Dry, about the global water humanitarian crisis that featured interviews with Mikhail Gorbachev, Shimon Peres and others. The documentary shed light on the fact that every 15 seconds, a child dies from the lack of water or water related diseases and that the seeds of terrorism evolve from the global humanitarian crisis.

“My last project was looked upon as a reliable source of information in the ongoing battle to educate people about the crisis. The American Southwest documentary represents a profound opportunity to educate the public and even change some minds without politicization. It’s an honor to collaborate between these public and private sectors,” says Thebaut.

Inspiration for Running Dry originated from the late Illinois Sen. Paul Simon’s book, Tapped Out: The Coming World Crisis in Water and What We Can Do About It, published in 1998. Considered by many a harbinger of things to come, the book was excerpted in Parade Magazine and served as a wake-up call for decision makers and the public to act in order to save vanishing groundwater reserves. Simon’s book—as well as the Running Dry documentary—influenced the passage of the Sen. Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act, signed into law in late 2005.

Says Simon’s wife, Patti, “When Paul Simon wrote his book in 1997 he warned of the water crisis facing the American Southwest. Jim Thebaut has brought that warning to a dramatic depiction in “The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?”

The conditions and problems presented in the film challenge the future of this region. As Paul noted it will take foresight and political courage to meet this challenge. Solutions will not be simple.”

Jane Seymour, who appears on-camera as well as narrates, says, “As in the rest of the world, significant water problems exist in the Southwest states because of severe drought, urban development, agricultural uses and population growth. The overwhelming need to solve these issues in the United States and the world is crucial through education and planning. The severity of the American water crisis cannot be underestimated.”

Also interviewed for the American Southwest documentary is Floyd Wicks, president and CEO of American States Water Co., which provides water service to hundreds of thousands of Californians. “The recent stroke of a pen that reduced the amount of water through the state water project, coupled with the fact that Southern California just experienced the driest year ever recorded since 1887, and the reduction already experienced on the Colorado River all add up to the need for a comprehensive solution and analysis of the water supply sustainability in the American Southwest. With all these situations facing us it calls for immediate action to find new sources of supply. With everyone working together it can be done,” says Wicks.

For downloadable images and video clips, click on the above navigation menu.

THE PROJECT

“Running Dry” is a comprehensive public information/education project, established to raise awareness regarding the worsening global humanitarian water crisis. The project’s centerpieces are two explosive and enlightening in-depth documentaries, “Running Dry” and “The American Southwest: Are We Running Dry?”

Actress Jane Seymour, the documentaries’ narrator, and many other notable and knowledgeable individuals have come together to participate in the public information/education process.

THE INSPIRATION

The project was inspired by former U.S. Senator Paul Simon’s book “Tapped Out: The Coming World Crisis in Water and What We Can Do About It.”

Senator Simon devoted his time to teach that without a clean, reliable water supply human existence on this planet is not possible.

THE MISSION

Our Goal? Our mission is for all people to have access to safe, affordable and sustainable drinking water and adequate sanitation in an attempt to save lives now -and to ensure a healthy tomorrow for the future residents of the earth.

Click here to read “A Water Strategy For The USA” by Jim Thebaut.

Our efforts center around awareness and education. We are creating compelling educational media – and then traveling the world to meet with government officials, water experts, educators, activists - and people like you – in an attempt to save lives now and ensure a healthy tomorrow for the future residents of this earth. If you would like to support us in this quest, we would be thrilled to accept your assistance.

Then join our team - and help us financially in our quest (click below to donate using PayPal).

Thank you.