DOCSLIB.ORG

Salton Sea Alternatives Require

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Salton Sea Alternatives Require &KDSWHU 3XPS2XW3XPS,Q$OWHUQDWLYHV 7KHSXPSRXWSXPSLQDOWHUQDWLYHVDUHWKRVHWKDWSXPSZDWHUIURPWKH 6DOWRQ6HDWRGLVWDQWORFDWLRQVDQGWKHQSXPSZDWHUWRWKH6HDIURPRWKHU ORFDWLRQVLQYDULRXVFRPELQDWLRQV3XPSLQJZDWHURXWUHPRYHVVDOWODGHQ ZDWHUDQGWKXVUHGXFHVWKHDPRXQWRIVDOWDQGVDOLQLW\LQWKH6HD8VLQJ RWKHUSLSHOLQHVZDWHULVWKHQSXPSHGLQWRWKH6HD7KLVIUHVKHUZDWHU GHFUHDVHVWKH6HDªVVDOLQLW\¦LQHVVHQFHGLOXWLQJWKHVDOLQLW\RIWKH6HD 6RPHDOWHUQDWLYHVGRQRWSXPSZDWHULQWRWKH6HD7KHVHGHVLJQVPDLQWDLQ WKH6HDª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³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¦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³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§KDUG¨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
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Little Colorado River Project: Is New Hydropower Development the Key to a Renewable Energy Future, Or the Vestige of a Failed Past?
    COLORADO NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REVIEW The Little Colorado River Project: Is New Hydropower Development the Key to a Renewable Energy Future, or the Vestige oF a Failed Past? Liam Patton* Table of Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................ 42 I. THE EVOLUTION OF HYDROPOWER ON THE COLORADO PLATEAU ..... 45 A. Hydropower and the Development of Pumped Storage .......... 45 B. History of Dam ConstruCtion on the Plateau ........................... 48 C. Shipping ResourCes Off the Plateau: Phoenix as an Example 50 D. Modern PoliCies for Dam and Hydropower ConstruCtion ...... 52 E. The Result of Renewed Federal Support for Dams ................. 53 II. HYDROPOWER AS AN ALLY IN THE SHIFT TO CLEAN POWER ............ 54 A. Coal Generation and the Harms of the “Big Buildup” ............ 54 B. DeCommissioning Coal and the Shift to Renewable Energy ... 55 C. The LCR ProjeCt and “Clean” Pumped Hydropower .............. 56 * J.D. Candidate, 2021, University oF Colorado Law School. This Note is adapted From a final paper written for the Advanced Natural Resources Law Seminar. Thank you to the Colorado Natural Resources, Energy & Environmental Law Review staFF For all their advice and assistance in preparing this Note For publication. An additional thanks to ProFessor KrakoFF For her teachings on the economic, environmental, and Indigenous histories of the Colorado Plateau and For her invaluable guidance throughout the writing process. I am grateFul to share my Note with the community and owe it all to my professors and classmates at Colorado Law. COLORADO NATURAL RESOURCES, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL LAW REVIEW 42 Colo. Nat. Resources, Energy & Envtl. L. Rev. [Vol. 32:1 III. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PLATEAU HYDROPOWER ...............
    [Show full text]
  • Overview of Management and Restoration Activities in the Salton Sea Name Redacted Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
    Overview of Management and Restoration Activities in the Salton Sea name redacted Specialist in Natural Resources Policy May 26, 2004 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov RL31820 CRS Report for Congress Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress Overview of Management and Restoration Activities in the Salton Sea Summary The Salton Basin in southern California has supported many lakes and water bodies throughout its geological history. The most recent inland water body in the Basin is the Salton Sea, which was created from a levee break in 1905. The Salton Sea is the largest inland water body in California. In the past several decades the salinity of the Sea has been increasing, and is now considered a significant threat to the health of the current Salton Sea ecosystem. Ecosystem changes in the Sea were exemplified by several large die-offs of fish and birds that inhabit the Sea. Some of these events included endangered species such as the brown pelican. The Sea receives most of its water from agricultural drainage originating in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys in California. When water transfers from agricultural lands in these valleys to municipal water districts in San Diego were proposed to reduce California’s reliance on water from the Colorado River, concerns about the environmental impacts of these transfers on the Sea surfaced. The proposed water transfers would have resulted in less water flowing into the Salton Sea, which according to some scientists would increase the rate of evaporation in the Sea so that salinity levels would be lethal to most fish and wildlife in less than 10 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Grand Canyon Helicopter Tours
    GRAND CANYON HELICOPTER TOURS * * $289 Adult • $269 Child (Ages 2 - 11) + $35 Fees $364 Adult • $344 Child (Ages 2 - 11) + $80 Fees GRAND CANYON SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE THROUGH THE GRAND CANYON • Descend 4,000 feet into the Grand Canyon MOST AND SEE THE BEAUTIFUL BOWL OF FIRE. • Touch down by the banks of the Colorado River POPULAR • Champagne picnic under an authentic Hualapai Indian shelter TOUR! & Las Vegas Tours • Air only excursion through the Grand Canyon • Views of Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Fortication Hill and the Grand Wash Clis • Views of Lake Mead, Hoover Dam, Fortification Hill and the Grand Wash Clis • Tour Duration: Approximately 4 hours (hotel to hotel) World’s Largest Grand Canyon Air Tour Company, since 1965! • Tour Duration: Approximately 3 hours (hotel to hotel) • $40 SUNSET UPGRADE (PBW-4S) • ADD LIMO TRANSFERS & STRIP FLIGHT (PLW-1) $404 Adult • $384 Child (ages 2-11) + $80 Fees $349 Adult • $329 Child (Ages 2-11) + $40 Fees • ADD LIMO TRANSFERS & STRIP FLIGHT (PLW-4) $414 Adult • $394 Child (ages 2-11) + $80 Fees • ADD LIMO TRANSFERS, SUNSET & STRIP FLIGHT (PLW-4S) $454 Adult • $434 Child (ages 2-11) + $80 Fees $94 Adult • $74 Child (Ages 2 - 11) + $10 Fees TAKE TO THE SKIES OVER THE DAZZLING AND WORLD FAMOUS LAS VEGAS "STRIP"! • Views of the MGM, New York New York, Caesar’s Palace, Bellagio, Mirage and more • Fly by the Stratosphere Tower and downtown Glitter Gulch where Las Vegas began • Complimentary champagne toast L’excursion aérienne Die vielseitigste Papillon- Veleggiate al di sotto del キャニオン上空を低 La visita aérea más • Tour Duration: Approx.
    [Show full text]
  • A History of Water — and the Salton Sea — in Imperial
    Imperial Valley Press Saturday, March 21, 2015 A7 Land of Extremes QUESTIONS? Contact Local Content Editor Richard Montenegro Brown at [email protected] or 760-337-3453. UNCERTAIN FUTURE A history of water — and the Salton Sea — in Imperial BY NEAL V. HITCH Special to this Newspaper/Imperial Valley here is a cur- rent debate Sediments from the Grand Canyon among geol- and Colorado Pla- T ogists as to teau fill in the Gulf when the Grand Can- yon formed. In 2011, new evidence suggest- ed the Colorado River began carving into the Colorado Plateau 17 million years ago. This is different than the ABOVE: About 3.5 million years ago silt from the Colorado River fi lled the Gulf of California leaving a large salt lake in traditional theories what would become the Imperial Valley. PHOTOS COURTESY OF IMPE- dating to 6 million RIAL VALLEY DESERT MUSEUM years ago. What is clear, however, is what happened to the ma- terial after it left the ABOVE: Design of the Topographical Water Interactive by Wel- don Exhibit. RIGHT: Lake Cahuilla was created when the Col- Grand Canyon. orado River changed its course and fi lled the Imperial Valley. When it reached 39 feet above sea level, the water would open An interactive a breech and spill back into the Gulf of California. the Colorado River drained take advantages of the abun- topographical map into the Gulf until it was dance of resources the lake closed off. offered. The lake was com- This week at the museum A body of salt water re- pletely dry by 1700.
    [Show full text]
  • 3.6 Riverflow Issues
    AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT & ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES CHAPTER 3 3.6 RIVERFLOW ISSUES 3.6.1 INTRODUCTION This section considers the potential effects of interim surplus criteria on three types of releases from Glen Canyon Dam and Hoover Dam. The Glen Canyon Dam releases analyzed are those needed for restoration of beaches and habitat along the Colorado River between the Glen Canyon Dam and Lake Mead, and for a yet to be defined program of low steady summer flows to be provided for the study and recovery of endangered Colorado River fish, in years when releases from the dam are near the minimum. The Hoover Dam releases analyzed are the frequency of flood releases from the dam and the effect of flood flows along the river downstream of Hoover Dam. 3.6.2 BEACH/HABITAT-BUILDING FLOWS The construction and operation of Glen Canyon Dam has caused two major changes related to sediment resources downstream in Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon. The first is reduced sediment supply. Because the dam traps virtually all of the incoming sediment from the Upper Basin in Lake Powell, the Colorado River is now released from the dam as clear water. The second major change is the reduction in the high water zone from the level of pre-dam annual floods to the level of powerplant releases. Thus, the height of annual sediment deposition and erosion has been reduced. During the investigations leading to the preparation of the Operation of Glen Canyon Dam Final EIS (Reclamation, 1995b), the relationships between releases from the dam and downstream sedimentation processes were brought sharply into focus, and flow patterns designed to conserve sediment for building beaches and habitat (i.e., beach/habitat-building flow, or BHBF releases) were identified.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 1: Introduction
    1. Introduction 1.1 Introduction and Background The Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Complex or NWRC) consists of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Coachella Valley NWR. Although both Refuges are located within the 8,000-square-mile Salton Basin of the Colorado Desert (Figure 1-1), the purposes of these two Refuges are as different as the habitats and species they protect. The Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR, which consists of 37,660 acres, is situated at the south end of the Salton Sea, about 20 miles north of El Centro in Imperial County, California (Figure 1-2). The purpose of this Refuge is to protect and manage habitat to support migratory birds, particularly waterfowl, and other wildlife. Thousands of shorebirds, seabirds, and waterfowl stop-over or winter at the Salton Sea (Mark Stewart/USFWS) About 75 miles to the northwest is the 3,577-acre Coachella Valley NWR, located 10 miles east of Palm Springs in Riverside County, California (Figure 1-3). The purpose of this Refuge is to protect and contribute to the long-term survival of the federally threatened Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard (Uma inornata) and federally endangered Coachella Valley milk-vetch (Astragalus lentiginosus var. coachellae), both endemic to the active sand habitats in the Coachella Valley. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) prepared this Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) for the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR and Coachella Valley NWR to guide the management of these Refuges over the next 15 years. The CCP describes future Refuge conditions and provides long-range management direction for achieving the purposes for which each Refuge was established.
    [Show full text]
  • The Future of the Salton Sea with No Restoration Project
    HAZARD The Future of the Salton Sea With No Restoration Project MAY 2006 © Copyright 2006, All Rights Reserved ISBN No. 1-893790-12-6 ISBN-13: 978-1-893790-12-4 Pacific Institute 654 13th Street, Preservation Park Oakland, CA 94612 Telephone (510) 251-1600 Facsimile (510) 251-2203 [email protected] www.pacinst.org HAZARD The Future of the Salton Sea With No Restoration Project Michael J. Cohen and Karen H. Hyun A report of the MAY 2006 Prepared with the support of The Salton Sea Coalition & Imperial Visions The U.S. Geological Survey Salton Sea Science Office and the Compton Foundation About the Authors Michael Cohen is a Senior Associate at the Pacific Institute. He is the lead author of the Institute’s 1999 report entitled Haven or Hazard: The Ecology and Future of the Salton Sea, and of the 2001 report entitled Missing Water: The Uses and Flows of Water in the Colorado River Delta Region. He is also the co-author of several journal articles on water and the environment in the border region. He is a member of the California Resources Agency’s Salton Sea Advisory Committee. Karen Hyun is a Ph.D. candidate in the Marine Affairs Program at the University of Rhode Island. Her research interests include ecosystem-based management and governance, especially in the Colorado River Delta. She also has interests in transboundary water issues, authoring Solutions Lie Between the Extremes: The Evolution of International Watercourse Law on the Colorado River. In addition, she has examined watershed to coast issues in Transboundary Solutions to Environmental Problems in the Gulf of California Large Marine Ecosystem.
    [Show full text]
  • ATTACHMENT B Dams and Reservoirs Along the Lower
    ATTACHMENTS ATTACHMENT B Dams and Reservoirs Along the Lower Colorado River This attachment to the Colorado River Interim Surplus Criteria DEIS describes the dams and reservoirs on the main stream of the Colorado River from Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona to Morelos Dam along the international boundary with Mexico. The role that each plays in the operation of the Colorado River system is also explained. COLORADO RIVER INTERIM SURPLUS CRITERIA DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT COLORADO RIVER DAMS AND RESERVOIRS Lake Powell to Morelos Dam The following discussion summarizes the dams and reservoirs along the Colorado River from Lake Powell to the Southerly International Boundary (SIB) with Mexico and their specific roles in the operation of the Colorado River. Individual dams serve one or more specific purposes as designated in their federal construction authorizations. Such purposes are, water storage, flood control, river regulation, power generation, and water diversion to Arizona, Nevada, California, and Mexico. The All-American Canal is included in this summary because it conveys some of the water delivered to Mexico and thereby contributes to the river system operation. The dams and reservoirs are listed in the order of their location along the river proceeding downstream from Lake Powell. Their locations are shown on the map attached to the inside of the rear cover of this report. Glen Canyon Dam – Glen Canyon Dam, which formed Lake Powell, is a principal part of the Colorado River Storage Project. It is a concrete arch dam 710 feet high and 1,560 feet wide. The maximum generating discharge capacity is 33,200 cfs which may be augmented by an additional 15,000 cfs through the river outlet works.
    [Show full text]
  • Salton Sea Hydrological Modeling and Results
    TECHNICAL REPORT Salton Sea Hydrological Modeling and Results Prepared for Imperial Irrigation District October 2018 CH2M HILL 402 W. Broadway, Suite 1450 San Diego, CA 92101 Contents Section Page 1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 1-1 2 Description of Study Area .................................................................................................... 2-1 2.1 Background ...................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Salton Sea Watershed ...................................................................................................... 2-2 3 SALSA2 Model Description .................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.1 Time Step ............................................................................................................ 3-2 3.2 Air Quality Mitigation and Habitat Components Incorporated into SALSA2 ................... 3-2 3.3 Simulations of Water and Salt Balance ............................................................................ 3-4 3.3.1 Inflows ................................................................................................................. 3-4 3.3.2 Consumptive Use Demands and Deliveries ........................................................ 3-4 3.3.3 Salton Sea Evaporation ......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex
    Appendix J Cultural Setting - Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex Appendix J: Cultural Setting - Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex The following sections describe the cultural setting in and around the two refuges that constitute the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge Complex (NWRC) - Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR and Coachella Valley NWR. The cultural resources associated with these Refuges may include archaeological and historic sites, buildings, structures, and/or objects. Both the Imperial Valley and the Coachella Valley contain rich archaeological records. Some portions of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWRC have previously been inventoried for cultural resources, while substantial additional areas have not yet been examined. Seventy-seven prehistoric and historic sites, features, or isolated finds have been documented on or within a 0.5- mile buffer of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR and Coachella Valley NWR. Cultural History The outline of Colorado Desert culture history largely follows a summary by Jerry Schaefer (2006). It is founded on the pioneering work of Malcolm J. Rogers in many parts of the Colorado and Sonoran deserts (Rogers 1939, Rogers 1945, Rogers 1966). Since then, several overviews and syntheses have been prepared, with each succeeding effort drawing on the previous studies and adding new data and interpretations (Crabtree 1981, Schaefer 1994a, Schaefer and Laylander 2007, Wallace 1962, Warren 1984, Wilke 1976). The information presented here was compiled by ASM Affiliates in 2009 for the Service as part of Cultural Resources Review for the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWRC. Four successive periods, each with distinctive cultural patterns, may be defined for the prehistoric Colorado Desert, extending back in time over a period of at least 12,000 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Dam Failure Study at Glen Canyon
    34 hours for the maximum stage of the flood wave to ar- Dam Failure Study rive at the upper reaches of Lake Powell. Routing the esti- mated flood inflow hydrograph indicated that Glen Can- At Glen Canyon Dam yon Dam would be overtopped for a duration of about 40 hours, with a peak depth of 2.9 feet over the parapet wall. By Stephen E. Latham, While it is unlikely this overtopping flow would cause the Bureau of Reclamation, July 1998 dam to fail, for the purposes of evaluating this scenario, Note: This document is abridged failure was assumed. Outflow assumptions prior to the Overtopping Failure Purpose of Study were as follows. Measures would likely have been taken The purpose of this study is to estimate the magnitude at Glen Canyon Dam to lower Lake Powell, probably by of flooding that would result along the Colorado River from opening the spillways 2 to 3 hours after notification of the Lake Powell to Hoover Dam due to the failure of Glen Can- Flaming Gorge Dam failure. Upon arrival of the flood wave yon Dam. This study was requested, pursuant to policy, by at Lake Powell, it was assumed that the spillway gates the Bureau of Reclamation. This information can be used would be opened uniformly to the normal maximum dis- in Reclamation’s emergency action plan for Glen Canyon charge of 238,000 cfs. Dam, and as a reference in preparing inundation maps for areas downstream of the dam. It can also be used to help Study Results local authorities develop warning and evacuation plans.
    [Show full text]
  • National Register Off Historic Places Inventory
    CM* United States D«p«rtm«nt of thsj Inferior National Park Service. For NPS UM National Register off Historic Places Inventory— Nomination Form See) instructions in How to Comp/tet National Register Forms Typo aii entrfes—compiete applicable sections ___ ___________________________ 1. Name______ ___________ _________ historic Hoover Dam ( also known as Boulder Dam until 1947 ) and Of common __________________ 2. Location____________________ Located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River on the Nevada- Arizona boundary. •troot * numb+f East of Las Vegaa on U,S. 93___________________ —— not for pubHcstion C-onp;r,essional District: city,town Boulder City, Nevada JL vicinity of Arizona # 3 Nevada # Arizona 04 Mohave 015- state Nevada cod* 32 county Clark coo* 003 3. Classification Category Ownorshlp Status Present Use> __district __£ public —x occupied —— agriculture _^_ museuiM __ bulldlng(s) __ private __ unoccupied ___ commercial —— peril £— structurt __ both —— work in progress —— educstlonai _^_ private residence __ sits Public Acquisition Accessible —— entertainment __religious —— obisct —— in procsss _Ji yes: restricted x government —__ scientific __ bsing considortd — yes: unrestricted __ industrial — transportation —— no __ military —— other: 4. Owner off Property name Bureau-of Reclamation—Lower Colorado street & number 1404 Colorado Street city, town Boulder City vicinity of state Nevada 39005 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Bureau of Reclamation—Lower Colorado Region street & number 1404 Colorado Street city, town Boulder City state Nevada 89005 6. Representation in Existing Surveys no title of P1 arp.jias this property been determined eligible? —— y«« —— <*•*• April P., federal state county —— local dtposuory for survey records National Park Service, 1100 L Street NW city Washington, DC ~ 200T3-7127 "~ 7.
    [Show full text]