Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 3 views

    Colorado River

    Uploaded by

    nishitas2857

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Colorado River

    Uploaded by

    nishitas2857
    3 views22 pages

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    3 views22 pages

    Colorado River

    Uploaded by

    nishitas2857

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    You are on page 1of 22

    COLORADO RIVER

    The Colorado River is a significant waterway in the southwestern United States and northern
    Mexico. Originating from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, it flows southwest across the
    Colorado Plateau, passing through Utah, Arizona, Nevada, California, and Baja California before
    emptying into the Gulf of California in Mexico. The river is approximately 1,450 miles (2,330
    kilometres) long. The river is formed by snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains and flows through
    seven U.S. states before reaching Mexico and the Gulf of California.
    LOCATION & LOCAL/GLOBAL

    The Colorado River is a major river in North


    America that runs from the Rocky Mountains of
    Colorado, United States, for 1,450 miles (2,330 A Climatograph of the Colorado River
    kilometers) into the Gulf of California in
    northwestern Mexico
    LOCAL/GLOBAL
    The Colorado River is both a local and global waterway:
    Local: The river originates in Colorado's Rocky Mountain
    National Park and flows through seven US states,
    including Colorado, Utah, and Arizona. It also passes
    through 30 tribal nations and has tributaries like the
    Yampa, White, and Eagle.
    Global: The river flows into Mexico and empties into the
    Gulf of California, forming the international boundary
    between Arizona and Mexico for 17 miles. The Colorado
    River basin covers 246,000 square miles, which is about
    8% of the continental US and connects 40 million people
    in the American West.
    BIOTIC SPECIES
    IN THE LOCATION
    Typical biotic species found in and around the Colorado
    River include:

    Fish: Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, bonytail


    chub, and razorback sucker.

    Birds: Bald eagle, southwestern willow flycatcher, and


    the Yuma clapper rail.

    Mammals: Bighorn sheep, beavers, and various bat


    species.

    Plants: Cottonwood trees, willows, and various desert


    flora.
    IMPORTANT FACTS
    The Colorado River is approximately 1,450 miles (2,330 km)
    long.
    Flow States/Countries: Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada,
    California, Baja California, and Sonora (Mexico).
    Major Dams: Hoover Dam, Glen Canyon Dam, and Parker Dam.
    Usage: Provides water to about 40 million people and
    irrigation to nearly 5.5 million acres of farmland.
    The river is heavily regulated and managed through a series
    of dams and reservoirs.
    It's subject to the Colorado River Compact, an agreement
    allocating water rights among the basin states.
    The river rarely reaches its delta in the Gulf of California due
    to extensive water use.
    INPUTS OUTPUTS & STORAGES
    - Inputs: Precipitation, snowmelt from
    the Rocky Mountains, tributary rivers
    - Outputs: Evaporation, municipal and
    agricultural usage, discharge into the
    Gulf of California, human
    consumption,irrigation.
    - Storages: Reservoirs (Lake Mead, Lake
    Powell), groundwater aquifers, soil
    moisture.
    CAUSES AND PROCESSES
    What are the causes?
    Overallocation of water resources
    Climate change leads to reduced snowpack and increased
    evaporation
    Population growth in the Southwest increases water demand
    Agricultural practices requiring extensive irrigation
    What are the processes involved?
    Reduced snowpack in the Rocky Mountains due to climate
    change
    Increased evaporation from reservoirs due to higher
    temperatures
    Saltwater intrusion in the delta region due to reduced
    freshwater flow
    Soil salinization in agricultural areas due to intensive
    irrigation
    SPECIFIC THREATS
    Over-extraction: For agricultural, industrial, and municipal
    use.
    Climate change: Reduced snowpack and increased evaporation.
    Pollution: Agricultural runoff, urban wastewater.
    Dams and diversions: Disruption of natural flow and habitat.
    Drought and water scarcity
    Ecosystem degradation
    Loss of native species
    Conflicts over water allocation between states and
    countries
    CHANGES OVERTIME
    - Historical: The river once flowed
    freely into the Gulf of California.
    - Recent Trends: Significant reduction
    in flow due to dams, diversions, and
    increased demand.
    EFFECTS ON ECOSYSTEM &
    LOCAL COMMUNITIES
    Reduced biodiversity
    Altered river flow affecting riparian habitats
    Economic impacts on agriculture and tourism
    Water shortages in urban areas
    These threats have intensified over time, particularly in the
    last few decades due to climate change and increasing water
    demands.
    Human contributions:
    Overuse of water for agriculture and urban development
    Construction of dams altering natural river flow
    Pollution from agricultural runoff and urban areas
    HUMAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO
    THE PROBLEM
    Agricultural demands: High water usage for irrigation.
    Urban development: Increased water demand for
    growing cities.
    Dams and infrastructure: Alteration of natural water
    flow
    Overuse of water for agriculture and urban
    development
    Construction of dams altering natural river flow
    Pollution from agricultural runoff and urban areas
    CONFLICTS BETWEEN
    COMMUNITIES
    Media focus

    Overlooked impacts:

    Government intervention:

    Audubon's concerns:
    GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES AND
    RESPONSES
    - Policies: The Colorado River Compact (1922), Mexico-U.S. Water
    Treaty (1944), Minute 319 (2012), and Minute 323 (2017).
    The Colorado River Compact and subsequent agreements
    Water banking programs
    Drought contingency plans

    What are the responses? How is it being managed?


    Implementation of water conservation measures in urban areas
    Improved irrigation efficiency in agriculture
    Negotiation of new water-sharing agreements among basin states
    Ecosystem restoration projects, particularly in the delta region
    STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS
    OF GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES
    Strengths: Established legal
    frameworks, international cooperation.
    Limitations: Over-allocation of water
    rights, insufficient adaptation to
    climate change.
    EVALUATION
    Evaluation: Strengths: Provides a
    framework for water allocation
    Limitations: Based on overestimated
    water availability, doesn't adequately
    address climate change
    Sustainability: Current management is
    largely unsustainable due to
    overallocation and climate change
    impacts.
    ALTERNATIVE COURSES OF ACTION
    - Improved Water Conservation: Enhanced
    efficiency in agricultural irrigation and urban
    usage.
    - Desalination: Development of desalination plants
    to supplement freshwater supplies.
    - Water Recycling: Expansion of wastewater
    treatment and reuse programs.
    - Increasing water prices to reflect scarcity
    LINKS TO EVS & TOK
    EVS: Water resource management,
    climate change impacts, ecosystem
    conservation ToK: How do we balance
    competing claims to limited
    resources? How do we weigh short-
    term economic benefits against long-
    term environmental sustainability?
    Keywords: Water scarcity,
    overallocation, climate change,
    riparian ecosystem, water rights
    SYSTEMS DIAGRAM
    IMPACTS DIAGRAM
    EXAM QUESTIONS
    -Exam Questions:
    1. Describe two major threats to the Colorado River ecosystem. (Topic 3.1) [2 marks]
    2. Outline three ways in which human activities have altered the natural flow of the
    Colorado River. (Topic 4.2) [3 marks]
    3. Calculate the percentage decrease in the Colorado River's flow if climate models
    predict a reduction from 15 million acre-feet per year to 11 million acre-feet per
    year. (Topic 4.3) [2 marks]
    4. Evaluate the effectiveness of current management strategies for the Colorado River in
    addressing water scarcity issues. (Topic 4.3) [6 marks]
    5. Explain how climate change is likely to impact the water availability in the Colorado
    River basin. (Topic 6.2) [4 marks]
    BIBLIOGRAPHY
    https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Colorado-River/399409
    https://www.americanrivers.org/river/colorado-river-2/
    https://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/2023/02/28/colorado-
    river/#:~:text=In%201922%2C%20states%20agreed%20to,average%201.4%20billion%20cubic%20
    meters.
    https://tentribespartnership.org/wildlife/
    https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/colorado-
    river/wildlife-video/
    https://iee.psu.edu/news/podcast/growing-impact-climate-crops-and-colorado-
    river#:~:text=The%20overuse%20of%20the%20Colorado,River%20Basin%20and%20what%20is
    https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/colorado-
    river/colorado-river-in-crisis/
    THANK YOU!

    You might also like