Reasons For Controlling The Colorado Flashcards
Rain Shadow
River Discharge - Unpredictable
Mountains - Rain Shadow
Soil and Vegetation
Red desert soil and little vegetation means that there is rapid run off when heavy rain does fall
Fluctuations in river flow - sediment washed into river - Soil erosion
Unpredictable River Flow
Spring snowmelt - Further Upstream in Rocky Mountains
Unreliable Rainfall - Flash floods, less drought periods
Water and Electricity Needs
River - Cities
25 Million People are reliant on it
Hoover Dam Built
Politics - Allocating Water
Colorado River Compact
1922 agreement amongst seven US states in Colorado river basin
American Southwest governs the allocation of the water rights to the rivers water among the parties of the interstate compact
Agreement made in New Mexico by seven representatives of the Colorado rivers states
The rivers tributaries pass through on the way to Mexico
Increased Population
Influx of people from East to South West - All states covered by the Colorado benefit from the water management
High demands for water - Pools, Gardens. Baths and Showers
Water needed to irrigate the soil for food supply
Electricity - Air conditioning and industrial growth
Industrial Developments
Demand for power - Las Vegas
Water For Processing - Used in industry as a cooling agent
Agricultural Developments
Increased farmland needed to support growing population
Demand for more water - To grow crops
Irrigation Schemes - Water needs to be transferred
75% of the water issued for irrigation for farming
Electricity
Results from the variable flow
Loss of roads and bridges
Loss of properties near rivers
Water is used up by different human pressures and the Colorado river does not flow into the gulf of California anymore
Climate
Variations in climate and in rainfall
North/South Divide in temperature
High Temps of 40 Degrees
Unreliable Desert -
