This work investigates the complex economic and political mechanisms required to successfully manage and protect large-scale municipal water supplies through collaborative governance. Joan Hoffman, an economist with extensive research experience in urban and environmental policy, examines the specific challenges of balancing environmental preservation with economic development. The book utilizes the New York City watershed as a primary case study to illustrate how disparate stakeholders can align their interests to ensure long-term resource sustainability.

Experts recognize this text as a detailed examination of the intersection between regional economics and environmental management. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous look at the institutional hurdles inherent in watershed protection.