Water Diversions Webquest
1: Describe the location of the Salton Sea. What is the climate and geography of the area?
The Salton sea is located above the San Andreas fault; it i surrounded by mountains and the climate is often warm. Precipitation reaches approximately 3 inches.
2: How did the Salton Sea form? Explain what role humans played.
Humans played a vital role in creating the Salton Sea by flooding the valley near the Colorado river. A Company decided to dig canals in the Colorado River which eventually caused flooding and creating the Salton Sea.
3: What is the present condition of this body of water? How has it changed over the last 25 years? Why?
The Salton Sea has a high concentration of salt due to bad irrigation and agricultural systems. The runoff from the agriculture waste then comes into the sea and increases the salinity of the body of water; to add on, the evaporation of the water leaves the sea with more salt concentration hence allowing it to be very salty.
4: Describe several ways the Salton Sea has altered the ecosystem of the region. Explain the stability of that ecosystem. How is it changing over time?
Due to its’ rising salinity levels, the biodiversity of the Salton Sea has plummeted. The biodiversity has decreased dramatically due to the fact that the organisms can no longer tolerate the high salinity levels of the region causing death of several species ultimately damaging the ecosystem entirely.
5: Outline 3 environmental and 3 economic reasons the Salton Sea is important.
Environmental:
6: What steps are being taken to remediate the Salton Sea? What are the chances of success? Explain.
Due to the extensive amount of pollution there are limited amount of options to f the issue. Options such as leveling the salinity levels through dilution with ocean water; yet it is costly and hard.
7: Compare the similarities and differences between the Salton Sea and Lake Chad in Sub-Saharan Africa. (Make a VENN Diagram)
Salton Sea:
Similarities:
The Aral Sea
1: Where is the Aral Sea located?
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
2: Which rivers mainly supply the Aral Sea?
Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers
3: What government agency is responsible for the Aral Sea and its plight?
The World Bank Uzbek
4: Why was the water supply to the Sea diverted?
The water supply was diverted in order to irrigate the surrounding desert region or agriculture.
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5: What resources did the Aral Sea supply to the local inhabitants?
The Aral Sea supplies resources like fish, water, transportation, and recreation
6: Describe 3 negative environmental effects of the fading of this sea.
7: Describe 3 economic impacts in the region because of the water diversion.
8: How is the situation of the Salton Sea similar to the Aral Sea? How is it different?
The situation is similar because it was caused by humans, increase in salinity and toxin. The differences are that the Salton Sea is beginning to shrink because of Soviet Union diverting the 2 main sources and the Salton Sea is increased in salinity because there is no way for water to flow out
9: How would you describe this region today, other than as a “sea”?
I would describe this region as dead zone, dry, and polluted. There is nothing else left for the “sea” to give.
10: Explain five health effects on people related to the vanishing Aral Sea.
11: How can the Aral Sea be realistically rehabilitated?
Improving the quality of irrigation canals, installing desalination plants, using fewer chemicals and installing dams to fill the Aral Sea
12: Compare the situation in Mono Lake, California with that of the Aral Sea
How did the Mono Lake problem arise?
LA began to divert the water from Mono Lake to meet the need of their growing population
Describe 3 ways the problems of Mono Lake are similar to those of the Aral Sea
Outline three ways the problems of Mono Lake differ
13: Summarize the proposal and actions to remediate Mono Lake The actions that were made to save Mono Lake was the committee working to save the lake from destruction. They were able to educate the public about the natural environment and how to use water more wisely. The California Fish and Game service attempted to put fish back into the lake. Also, in 1994, California State Water Resources Control Board have ordered to DWP to raise the sea levels.
Colorado River Basin
1: Compare water diversion influences on the Colorado River with those on the Salton Sea and the Aral Sea. Describe three ways they are different.
2: Look at the map- Where is the source of the Colorado River?
The Rocky Mountains
What are some of the main tributaries and their source?
What is the most important origin of the water in the Colorado River?
3: Politics: Who decides where the water in the river system goes? How is the resource divided between the various states in the watershed and beyond?
Seven states of the Colorado River basin collectively decide how the water is allocated and abide by the Colorado River Compact.
4: How do the individual states use the water? Who are the top five consumers of the water?
The water goes through dams that send water through aqueducts. The water is then sent throughout the seven states. California, Colorado,Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico are the top five consumers.
5: Describe some of the conflicts that arise over water use. How are they usually resolved?
Conflicts include competition of water usage, depletion of water for more vulnerable species, and responsibility of water sanitation, which leads to arguments over how much water one state should use over the other. They are resolved through conferences to agree the best places to use the water.
6: How are conflicts between public and private use managed?
The Colorado River Salinity Control Program comes up with solutions to conflicts between public and private water use.
7: Serious differences with Mexico exist concerning the amount of water the Mexicans receive from the river. Explain why this problem exists and what can be done to work out this dispute between the countries.
The problem exists because droughts and other climate changes occur and change the way that water can be used in the Mexico area. The conflict was resolved by the Colorado River conflict between Mexico and the US.
8: The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers cross international boundaries in their path to the Persian Gulf. Why is this problem potentially greater than the one that exists on the Colorado River?
The countries in these areas require more water than other countries because they are located in arid regions. It causes international relations to be unstable.
9: Compare the problem of water diversions on the Yangtze River in China with those of the Colorado River.
The Yangtze River has a higher discharge rate than the Colorado River. Diversion of the Yangtze and the Colorado are both because of the growing populations in those areas.
10: The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is very controversial. Why is this dam being built?
It supplies hydroelectric power to the region and reduces the potential for floods downstream
11: Describe how this dam differs from dams on the Colorado River, such as the Glen Canyon Dam or Hoover Dam, with respect to:
• the disruption of human life
• impact on the environment
• archaeology
• local culture and natural beauty
Water Diversion- FRQ
Q: The Colorado River runs 1,450 from the headwaters of the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. The primary source of Colorado River water is melting Rocky Mountain snowpack. Once the river descends from the Rockies, it flows through a landscape that is dominated by desert. Colorado River water carries a high load of sediment. The river has many dams, aqueducts and canals that divert the water in order to supply for electricity, irrigation, recreation, and domestic use.
a: Describe and discuss two environmental issues associated with water diversion projects. Identify two benefits other than agriculture and recreation that people derive from that system of dams.
Water diversion reduces the amount of water available for local species to the source of water. This practice also depletes habitats for organisms due to the lack of plants from lack of water. Damming creates a reservoir for water to be stored. Creation and maintanence of dams also creates job opportunities for the unemployed civilian.
b: If there is a shortage of water, decisions will have to be made as to whether the water should be diverted to urban areas, agricultural areas, or natural ecosystems. Make an argument for diverting water for urban consumption, and an argument for permitting the water to flow to natural areas.
Water should be diverted into urban areas because people need water as an everyday necessity for domestic uses such as cleaning, bathing, cooking, and drinking water. Water should also be diverted into natural areas, such as wetlands, to naturally filter out pollutants.
c: Identify another example (other than the Colorado River) of a large-scale water diversion project. Discuss two environmental problems that have resulted or might result from this project.
The Aral sea was another large-scale diversion project that caused environmental damage which increased salinity. This in turn kill several species of fish that does not have the ability to survive in an environment with high concentration of salt in the water. Another issue that arises from the drying up of the sea is the weapon testing which lead to poisoning the organisms in the sea. Not only that but agricultural runoff encourages eutrophication which causes low levels of oxygen in the water due to the flourishing of algae hence killing off more organisms and can potentially create dead zones. Through the pesticides in the water, the fish can have a biomagnification effect which can ultimately harm the human population as well.
d: Identify two possible environmental consequences of climate change on the hydrology of the Colorado River system.
e: In addition to impacts on the Colorado River system, climate change is impacting the hydrology of coastal ecosystems. Identify and describe TWO possible consequences of climate change on coastal ecosystems.
Climate systems in coastal systems that could be affected by increases in precipitation, high sea level level, and warmer sea temperature. The rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are also making the water more acidic. The rising sea level is causing flooding in the coastal areas and the high acidity is causing a decrease in biodiversity.
The Salton sea is located above the San Andreas fault; it i surrounded by mountains and the climate is often warm. Precipitation reaches approximately 3 inches.
2: How did the Salton Sea form? Explain what role humans played.
Humans played a vital role in creating the Salton Sea by flooding the valley near the Colorado river. A Company decided to dig canals in the Colorado River which eventually caused flooding and creating the Salton Sea.
3: What is the present condition of this body of water? How has it changed over the last 25 years? Why?
The Salton Sea has a high concentration of salt due to bad irrigation and agricultural systems. The runoff from the agriculture waste then comes into the sea and increases the salinity of the body of water; to add on, the evaporation of the water leaves the sea with more salt concentration hence allowing it to be very salty.
4: Describe several ways the Salton Sea has altered the ecosystem of the region. Explain the stability of that ecosystem. How is it changing over time?
Due to its’ rising salinity levels, the biodiversity of the Salton Sea has plummeted. The biodiversity has decreased dramatically due to the fact that the organisms can no longer tolerate the high salinity levels of the region causing death of several species ultimately damaging the ecosystem entirely.
5: Outline 3 environmental and 3 economic reasons the Salton Sea is important.
Environmental:
- Home to approximately 400 different species of birds
- Provided biodiversity to the ecosystem
- Biodiversity allowed organisms to flourish which provided several benefits to the human population.
- Provided recreational activities for the people causing tourism
- Attracted people for the variety of species of birds; hence paid bird watching
- Due to the biodiversity of the fish; there were fishing and profit from that.
6: What steps are being taken to remediate the Salton Sea? What are the chances of success? Explain.
Due to the extensive amount of pollution there are limited amount of options to f the issue. Options such as leveling the salinity levels through dilution with ocean water; yet it is costly and hard.
7: Compare the similarities and differences between the Salton Sea and Lake Chad in Sub-Saharan Africa. (Make a VENN Diagram)
Salton Sea:
- Increase of salinity levels
- Located in California
- Causes problems with the ecosystem and economy due to the loss of species
Similarities:
- Problems environmentally
- Increased Salinity levels
- Loss of biodiversity
- Located in Africa near Nigeria
- The lake is shrinking due to lack of source of water (but also causes rising salinity levels)
- In need of population control
The Aral Sea
1: Where is the Aral Sea located?
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
2: Which rivers mainly supply the Aral Sea?
Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers
3: What government agency is responsible for the Aral Sea and its plight?
The World Bank Uzbek
4: Why was the water supply to the Sea diverted?
The water supply was diverted in order to irrigate the surrounding desert region or agriculture.
.
5: What resources did the Aral Sea supply to the local inhabitants?
The Aral Sea supplies resources like fish, water, transportation, and recreation
6: Describe 3 negative environmental effects of the fading of this sea.
- plains covered with salt and toxic chemicals
- lack of water and health problems
- crops are being destroyed by salt deposited into the land
7: Describe 3 economic impacts in the region because of the water diversion.
- Fish catch has been worn
- Fishing towns became graveyards
- Fish boats lie scattered on the dry lands
8: How is the situation of the Salton Sea similar to the Aral Sea? How is it different?
The situation is similar because it was caused by humans, increase in salinity and toxin. The differences are that the Salton Sea is beginning to shrink because of Soviet Union diverting the 2 main sources and the Salton Sea is increased in salinity because there is no way for water to flow out
9: How would you describe this region today, other than as a “sea”?
I would describe this region as dead zone, dry, and polluted. There is nothing else left for the “sea” to give.
10: Explain five health effects on people related to the vanishing Aral Sea.
- High cancer rates
- Lung diseases
- Digestive disorders
- Anemia
- Respiratory illness
11: How can the Aral Sea be realistically rehabilitated?
Improving the quality of irrigation canals, installing desalination plants, using fewer chemicals and installing dams to fill the Aral Sea
12: Compare the situation in Mono Lake, California with that of the Aral Sea
How did the Mono Lake problem arise?
LA began to divert the water from Mono Lake to meet the need of their growing population
Describe 3 ways the problems of Mono Lake are similar to those of the Aral Sea
- Water diverted for human use
- Loss of fish species
- Severe effects on the area surrounding the lake and sea
Outline three ways the problems of Mono Lake differ
- Fishing industries ruined in Aral Sea when there is still fish in Mono Lake
- Russia diverted water for irrigation
- LA diverted water for growing population.
13: Summarize the proposal and actions to remediate Mono Lake The actions that were made to save Mono Lake was the committee working to save the lake from destruction. They were able to educate the public about the natural environment and how to use water more wisely. The California Fish and Game service attempted to put fish back into the lake. Also, in 1994, California State Water Resources Control Board have ordered to DWP to raise the sea levels.
Colorado River Basin
1: Compare water diversion influences on the Colorado River with those on the Salton Sea and the Aral Sea. Describe three ways they are different.
- Aral Sea: Fishing Industry, destroyed by river diversion, drained to irrigate cotton fields
- Salton Sea: Formed by flood and agricultural drainage reservoir
- Colorado River: Irrigation, hydroelectric power, and recreation
2: Look at the map- Where is the source of the Colorado River?
The Rocky Mountains
What are some of the main tributaries and their source?
What is the most important origin of the water in the Colorado River?
3: Politics: Who decides where the water in the river system goes? How is the resource divided between the various states in the watershed and beyond?
Seven states of the Colorado River basin collectively decide how the water is allocated and abide by the Colorado River Compact.
4: How do the individual states use the water? Who are the top five consumers of the water?
The water goes through dams that send water through aqueducts. The water is then sent throughout the seven states. California, Colorado,Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico are the top five consumers.
5: Describe some of the conflicts that arise over water use. How are they usually resolved?
Conflicts include competition of water usage, depletion of water for more vulnerable species, and responsibility of water sanitation, which leads to arguments over how much water one state should use over the other. They are resolved through conferences to agree the best places to use the water.
6: How are conflicts between public and private use managed?
The Colorado River Salinity Control Program comes up with solutions to conflicts between public and private water use.
7: Serious differences with Mexico exist concerning the amount of water the Mexicans receive from the river. Explain why this problem exists and what can be done to work out this dispute between the countries.
The problem exists because droughts and other climate changes occur and change the way that water can be used in the Mexico area. The conflict was resolved by the Colorado River conflict between Mexico and the US.
8: The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers cross international boundaries in their path to the Persian Gulf. Why is this problem potentially greater than the one that exists on the Colorado River?
The countries in these areas require more water than other countries because they are located in arid regions. It causes international relations to be unstable.
9: Compare the problem of water diversions on the Yangtze River in China with those of the Colorado River.
The Yangtze River has a higher discharge rate than the Colorado River. Diversion of the Yangtze and the Colorado are both because of the growing populations in those areas.
10: The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is very controversial. Why is this dam being built?
It supplies hydroelectric power to the region and reduces the potential for floods downstream
11: Describe how this dam differs from dams on the Colorado River, such as the Glen Canyon Dam or Hoover Dam, with respect to:
• the disruption of human life
• impact on the environment
• archaeology
• local culture and natural beauty
Water Diversion- FRQ
Q: The Colorado River runs 1,450 from the headwaters of the Rocky Mountains to the Gulf of California. The primary source of Colorado River water is melting Rocky Mountain snowpack. Once the river descends from the Rockies, it flows through a landscape that is dominated by desert. Colorado River water carries a high load of sediment. The river has many dams, aqueducts and canals that divert the water in order to supply for electricity, irrigation, recreation, and domestic use.
a: Describe and discuss two environmental issues associated with water diversion projects. Identify two benefits other than agriculture and recreation that people derive from that system of dams.
Water diversion reduces the amount of water available for local species to the source of water. This practice also depletes habitats for organisms due to the lack of plants from lack of water. Damming creates a reservoir for water to be stored. Creation and maintanence of dams also creates job opportunities for the unemployed civilian.
b: If there is a shortage of water, decisions will have to be made as to whether the water should be diverted to urban areas, agricultural areas, or natural ecosystems. Make an argument for diverting water for urban consumption, and an argument for permitting the water to flow to natural areas.
Water should be diverted into urban areas because people need water as an everyday necessity for domestic uses such as cleaning, bathing, cooking, and drinking water. Water should also be diverted into natural areas, such as wetlands, to naturally filter out pollutants.
c: Identify another example (other than the Colorado River) of a large-scale water diversion project. Discuss two environmental problems that have resulted or might result from this project.
The Aral sea was another large-scale diversion project that caused environmental damage which increased salinity. This in turn kill several species of fish that does not have the ability to survive in an environment with high concentration of salt in the water. Another issue that arises from the drying up of the sea is the weapon testing which lead to poisoning the organisms in the sea. Not only that but agricultural runoff encourages eutrophication which causes low levels of oxygen in the water due to the flourishing of algae hence killing off more organisms and can potentially create dead zones. Through the pesticides in the water, the fish can have a biomagnification effect which can ultimately harm the human population as well.
d: Identify two possible environmental consequences of climate change on the hydrology of the Colorado River system.
- The colorado river could cause an increase in water temperature
- The solubility of oxygen decreases and the amount of reproduction and growth decreases
e: In addition to impacts on the Colorado River system, climate change is impacting the hydrology of coastal ecosystems. Identify and describe TWO possible consequences of climate change on coastal ecosystems.
Climate systems in coastal systems that could be affected by increases in precipitation, high sea level level, and warmer sea temperature. The rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are also making the water more acidic. The rising sea level is causing flooding in the coastal areas and the high acidity is causing a decrease in biodiversity.