The Quake That Drained the Desert

Mary Reynolds is an urban planner turned historian who uncovers the hidden forces shaping desert ecosystems and water systems. Raised in the Sonoran Desert, she blends historical investigation with science reporting to reveal how past events still shape modern environmental realities. Her book, The Quake That Drained the Desert, traces how a forgotten 19th‑century Arizona earthquake continues to affect aquifers today—offering a surprising new lens on groundwater, climate resilience, and the long memory of landscapes.