Colorado River (2) Flashcards
How is the flow controlled
20 dams have been built
Dams from reservoirs such as the Hoover dam making the reservoir of lake mead (largest artificial lake in the world)
Glen canyon dam - third heist in the world
Basic facts
Flows through southwest United States and northwestern Mexico
2334km long
Source is the Rocky Mountains
Passes through gorges and canyons which were created by the erosion
Chief tributary is the green river
Drains parts of 7 states
Why is the river controlled
Store water for dry seasons
Store water for movement to areas of desert and drought
Hydroelectric power (HEP)
New settlements to be developed in desert areas
Economic gains of river management
Increased income of farming
Industries attracted to “sunshine sates”
HEP attracts new businesses
Cheap electricity reduces needs for oil and imports
Tourist attraction
Economic losses from river management
Fast growth - how long can the places be sustained of water runs out
Very expensive
Environmental gains from river management
Varied scenery, attracts different wildlife
Water provided for vegetation
Reduced dependence on fossil fuels
Flood risk reduced
Environmental losses from river management
Water table has fallen, new technology may not be good enough
Water management doesn’t always work - human error
Extraction of water may increase concentration of salt
Social gains from river management
New cities created
Families make fresh starts, from redundancies etc
New leisure opportunities
Social losses from river management
Image of wealth may attract crime
Tensions with Mexico, only 1% of Colorado’s water reaches it
What is the cascade system
Start of each month forecasts are used to predict likely runoff in the river system. Lower the levels of reservoirs over winter to allow snow to melt into them and rainwater to be stored
Overflow can be let through into other dams etc
What has gone wrong with the cascade system
1983 - late snow falls happened and the level of water was not lowered enough. An unexpected heat wave occurred and engineers were criticised for not lowering the levels further.
How is development creating longer term problems
More water in being drawn out of the underground reservoirs than how much rainwater is soaking up underground
Technology will have to go even deeper and it will have limits
