Germany and the American West share a keen interest in water ecology, an interest grounded in ideas about the place of nature in cultural identity. This volume provides examples of the ways that German and American cultural and environmental traditions have influenced attitudes about water usage and conservation. It investigates the connections between our changing notions of nature and the varied metaphors with which we represent water. The essays explore how images of water probe the boundaries between culture and nature, reflect fears of disease and sexuality, support concepts of collective identity, and help shape the ways we think about resource management.