This is an explicit ecological model through which Abruzzi explains successful Mormon colonization of the Colorado River Basin in northeastern Arizona. His model is an adaptation of the general model developed by plant and animal ecologists to account for the evolution of complex ecological communities. Using a detailed systematic materialist analysis, Abruzzi explains several specific historical developments associated with the settlement process. Contents: Introduction; Colonizing the Little Colorado River Basin; The Evolution of Ecological Communities; The Little Colorado River Basin; Dam Construction; Exploiting Environmental Diversity; External Impacts on the Settlement Process; Conclusion; Maps, Tables and Figures throughout.