Outdoor adventure photographer Peter McBride began his ongoing project about the Colorado River in 2008 to bring attention to the plight of what he calls “the Southwest’s lifeline.” “Few people realize the architect of the Grand Canyon turns into a whimper and dies 90 miles shy of the Sea of Cortez,” McBride says via e-mail. “I strongly believe that if more people knew that, the river would have a better shot of coming back to life.