Underflows: Queer Trans Ecologies and River Justice

Underflows is a book that explores river cultures and politics at five sites of water conflict and restoration in California, Oregon, and Washington. It incorporates work with salmon, beaver, and floodplain recovery projects and weaves narratives about innovative field research practices with an affectively oriented queer and trans focus on love and grief for rivers and fish. It elucidates the underflows in river cultures, sciences, and politics where Native nations and marginalized communities fight to protect rivers, offering critical insights that point to innovative ways of doing science that disrupt settler colonialism and new visions for justice in river governance.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 14 April 2022
Publisher: University of Washington Press

Rivers are not just bodies of water, but vibrant ecosystems that harbor a diverse array of plant and animal species. These communities are intricately linked to the health and well-being of the rivers themselves, and their future vitality depends on a holistic approach that values justice, sovereignty, and dynamism.

Queer-trans-feminist river scientist Cleo Wölfle Hazard has emphasized the importance of centering these values in the conservation and management of rivers. At the intersection of river sciences, queer and trans theory, and environmental justice, Underflows delves into the complex cultures and politics surrounding rivers at five sites of water conflict and restoration in California, Oregon, and Washington.

Through her work with salmon, beaver, and floodplain recovery projects, Wölfle Hazard weaves narratives about innovative field research practices with an affectively oriented queer and trans focus on love and grief for rivers and fish. By drawing on the concept of underflows—the unseen parts of a river's flow that seep through soil or rise from aquifers through cracks in bedrock—Wölfle Hazard elucidates the underflows in river cultures, sciences, and politics where Native nations and marginalized communities fight to protect rivers.

The result is a deeply moving account of why rivers matter for queer and trans life, offering critical insights that point to innovative ways of doing science that disrupt settler colonialism and new visions for justice in river governance.

In conclusion, rivers are not just natural resources; they are sacred spaces that hold immense cultural and ecological value. By valuing justice, sovereignty, and dynamism, we can ensure the long-term health and vitality of these vital ecosystems and the communities that depend on them. Underflows is a powerful testament to the importance of centering these values in the conservation and management of rivers, and it offers a roadmap for building a more just and sustainable future for all.

Weight: 442g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295749754