The Colorado River Compact initiated in 1922 has been both a bane and a boon to cities, states, residents, and politicians who have lived along the river and relied on it for survival. When severe drought plagued the American Southwest in the early 2000s, a new leader for water negotiations emerged: Patricia Mulroy. She hailed from Las Vegas—a city with a burgeoning population and title to a very small portion of the Colorado. After bringing together the city’s vying water districts, Mulroy worked with the entire river community and ushered in a new era of cooperation in the face of an uncertain climatic future.