Former water resources administrator for the city of Â鶹¹ÙÍø's open space program, Robert R. Crifasi has written a deeply researched, deftly written guide that is both informative and entertaining, even for lay readers. Widely regarded as one of the area's bona fide water experts, Crifasi sat on the boards of 11 private Â鶹¹ÙÍø ditch companies and managed all of the city's ditches. He also has shoveled countless tons of wet leaves, silt and the occasional dead skunk as a ditch rider.