Every year the Society of Environmental Journalists gives out an award for the best environmental book of the year. The award, named for "Silent Spring" author Rachel Carson, is a coveted honor.

This year the top prize went to"Heart of Dryness" by James G. Workman. Second place was another book on water, "Unquenchable" by Robert Glennon.

But right there in third place was our own "Paving Paradise"!

It was the only regional book on the list, the only one put out by a university press. The other two were from commercial publishers.

The judges called our book "an absolute must-read for anyone concerned about regulatory incompetence and accountability, especially that of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and its enormous influence on how our nation's land is destroyed and its water polluted by unwise development."

They also called it "gutsy."

"This is top-notch investigative journalism," one judge said.