Case Study: the Colorado River Basin- Water Conflict

Case Study: The Colorado River Basin- water conflict The Colorado River flows 1400 miles from the mountains of central Colorado to the Mexican border and eventually to the Gulf of California. During the past 50 years this once free flowing river has been tamed by a gigantic plumbing system consisting of  14 major dams and reservoirs.  hundreds of smaller dams.  a network of aqueducts and canals that supply water to farmers, ranchers and cities. Today, this domesticated river provides  electricity (from hydroelectric plants at major dams)  water for more than 25 million people in 7 states  water used to produce about 15% of the nation's produce and livestock  multi-billion recreation industry of o whitewater rafting o boating o fishing o camping o hiking Controlling the flow Dams were built to enable the flow to be controlled as well as providing enough water to supply human demand in the dry summer months

Due to the length of the river a series of dams were constructed (much like lock gates on a canal)

Once forecasts had been analysed, engineers could calculate the amount of water that should be released from each reservoir at specific times to control the flow of water and prevent flooding.

Effect on people & environment  Urban centres such as Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix and Los Angeles have all become dependent on the Colorado dam system for water and electricity.  In Phoenix, the area has seen a rapid population growth as people see the desert environment being turned into a pleasant living environment.  The water from the dam system allows trees to grow, swimming pools to be built and artificial lawns to be planted which can be watered by a mass of sprinklers dotted all over the city.  However there has been a dramatic increase in the level of traffic pollution and smog.  There is major traffic congestion which is difficult to sort out.  As Phoenix grows and demands more water the amount that can be supplied is unable to keep up.  Underground water sources are dropping 3 metres a year whilst large amounts of water are lost from reservoirs due to evaporation in such a hot climate and natural water seepage. Take away this tamed river and  Las Vegas, Nevada would be a mostly uninhabited desert area.  San Diego, California (which gets 70% of its water from the Colorado), could not support its present population.  California's Imperial Valley (which grows a major portion of the nation's vegetables would consist mostly of cactus and mesquite plants. Three major problems are associated with use of this river's water:  the Colorado River basin includes some of the driest lands in the US.  Legal pacts in 1922 and 1944 allocate more water to the states in the river's upper basin (Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico) and lower basin (Arizona, Nevada and California) and to Mexico, than now flows through the river, even in years without a drought.  because of so many withdrawals, the river rarely makes it to the Gulf of California.