“The Salton Sea: An Account of Harriman’s Fight with the Colorado River” by George Kennan thoroughly recounts the dramatic creation of a fertile oasis in a dry desert near the Imperial Valley. Herewith, the author provides all details about severe mistakes, neglect, mismanagement, and overreaching to unfold the problem. This paper aims at providing my personal critique of the book and relating it to my career and objectives.
The information in the book equips me with practical advice that I may use when constructing irrigation systems able to increase Kuwait’s fertility. In particular, based on reading, I now clearly realize the importance of addressing all significant issues while developing a specific project to prevent complications in the future. For example, having sufficient data about the land and the river, the engineers neglected the possibility of canals’ obstruction by the silt and failed to develop relevant solutions. Besides, I understand that I should design projects with spare power or volume to meet the potential growth of demand. This requires the in-depth examination of territory, climate, a population that will use the resources, and a company’s material abilities.
It is also vital to consider possible risks that may occur in both short-term and long-run prospects. For instance, like California, Kuwait also possesses deserts and arid periods alternating with torrential rains that may inflict emergency threats. Thus, a constructor should elaborate a plan that can eliminate or at least minimize hazards and related adverse outcomes. Finally, after reading, I have received excellent examples of how to consolidate efforts when particular calamities are coming or have already occurred. Such situations require appropriate problem analysis and authentic leadership to guide and organize people and collect needed resources to respond to the disaster timely and adequately.