Bullfrog Films
59 minutes
Study Guide
Grades 9-12, College, Adult

Directed by Christopher McLeod
Produced by Robert Lewis and Christopher McLeod

DVD Purchase $79, Rent $45

US Release Date: 1988
Copyright Date: 1987
DVD ISBN: 1-59458-685-3
VHS ISBN: 1-56029-009-9

Subjects
American Studies
Chemistry
Economics
Environment
Environmental Ethics
Health
History
Humanities
Local Economies
Mining
Rivers
Toxic Chemicals
Urban and Regional Planning
Water
Western US

Awards and Festivals
Blue Ribbon, American Film & Video Festival
Gold Apple, National Educational Film & Video Festival
Best of Festival/Polaris Award, National Council for Geographic Education
CINE Golden Eagle
Golden Gate Award, San Francisco International Film Festival
Gold Medal, International Film & TV Festival of New York
Special Jury Award, Telluride MountainFilm Festival
Ekofilm
Editor's Choice, Booklist
Editor's Choice, Science Books and Films
Downwind/Downstream
Threats to the Mountains and Waters of the American West

Water quality for major southwest cities is threatened by mining, acid rain, urbanization.

"A superb tool for teaching modern environmentalism." Roderick Nash, Professor of History and Environmental Studies, UC Santa Barbara

DOWNWIND/DOWNSTREAM documents the serious threat to water quality, sub-alpine ecosystems, and public health in the Colorado Rockies from mining operations, acid rain, and urbanization.

10,000 abandoned mines in the high country, plus thousands of acres covered with wastes from such huge operations as the Climax molybdenum mine, release a steady stream of toxic heavy metals into the headwaters of the Western water supply -- water on which cities as far apart as El Paso, Phoenix, Denver, and Los Angeles depend.

Acid rain and snow leach additional metals from mountain soils and threaten aquatic ecosystems and forests. Together, these problems also represent a potent threat to the $10 billion Western tourism industry. The time for action is now!

Web Page: http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/down.html

Reviews
"A powerful reminder that we share a limited environment with other humans and other life forms and that we will be ecologically and ethically accountable for thoughtless conduct. The film is a superb tool for teaching modern environmentalism."

Roderick Nash, Professor of History and Environmental Studies, UC Santa Barbara