6A Reservoirs on the Colorado River.

Stop and Think:

1. Consider what the “squiggly lines” on the graphs of page 2 in the “How Low Can it Go?” article really mean…Use the graph of Lake Mead levels to describe a brief history of the reservoir. Tell when and how the reservoir got started, how long it took to fill, and mention events that affected its level.

The rise and fall of water levels are represented by “squiggly lines” in the article title “How Low Can it Go?” The Hoover Dam was built to keep the Colorado River full by creating basins to contain water such as Lake Mead.

1931-Started the Hoover Dam

1937- Filling of Lake Mead

1942- 95% capacity

1950- Several year drought

1967- Lake Powell was created in 1967

1999- Lake Mead at 95% capacity

2000’s- stead decline due to drought and human population growth. Down to 54%

2. Beginning in 1964, how long did it take to capture enough water to fill both of the large reservoirs?

It took from 1964 to 1990 for Lake Powell to reach its maximum capacity and it took 19 years for Lake Mead to reach its capacity.

3. The levels of Lake Powell and Lake Mead both show steep declines in the past decade. What are the two things that control the level of a reservoir?
The two main contributors to a reservoir are rainfall and human use.

6B What’s Responsible for Lower Reservoirs Levels?

Stop and Think

4. Compare snowpack in a watershed to a dam on a river. How are they alike? How are they different?

A snowpack is similar to a dam on a river in that they both hold water for future needs. A snowpack is different because we have a lot less control over the release and accumulation of water.

5. What effect does the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) have on water supplies to the Colorado River Basin?

The El Nino Southern Oscillation effects mostly the lower basins and not really much of the upper basins.

6. How does increasing population of sunbelt cities in the Lower Colorado River Basin contribute to lowering reservoir levels?

Water usage increases as population increases which leads to depletion of the reservoir levels in the Lower Colorado River Basin. The amount of water used exceeds the reservoirs sustainable yield.

7. In your own words, describe what’s responsible for lower reservoir levels in the Colorado River Basin.

The lower reservoir levels in the Colorado River Basin can be thought of as analogous to the issues within a “Tragedy of the Commons” phenomena. Human population in the surrounding areas are ever increasing while using the Basin for agriculture, electrify, and the basic human needs for water. The current drought is an important factor in the overall availability of water from the Colorado River and have increased the rate of the positive feedback loop of water storage in the River Basin.

8. List at least 3 possible impacts of the decline in water storage in the Colorado River.

Without water from the Colorado River many people in the surrounding states would go without electricity.
Many wildlife, including native fish, would be at risk for extinction due there dependency on the water.
Most of the South West would eventually be subject to “dustbowl” conditions.

6C: Can the River Continue to Meet Demand for Water?

Checking in

Describe the trend of water use in the states of Arizona, California, Nevada, and the country of Mexico.

The trend of water use in the South West has increased dramatically. Arizona uses almost 3 million acre feet per year of water while California uses over 5 million acre feet of water. Nevada uses 300,000 and started in 1942 using 2,472 acre feet of water.

How does water use in the states compare to the natural flow of the Colorado River (see graph in Part B) over the same time period?

The amount of water used in the states exceeds the sustainable yield of Colorado River’s natural flow.


Stop and Think

9. Calculate the percent increase in AZ water consumption between the years 1906 and 2008.

The increase of water consumption between the years of 1914 to 2008 was 385%

10. Based on the data in this section, describe what do you think will happen if the consumption  of Colorado River Water continues to grow at its present rate. Have we reached the carrying capacity of watershed?

A water shortage scenario is highly probably in the near future. As long as the drought continues and the human consumption stays the same or increases the water is eventually going to run out.

Checking In

How might the change in water levels affect you as a recreational boater? Give a specific example, naming features that are labeled in the pair of images.

If I were a recreational boater I would be severely effected by the water levels not allowing me to boat or have to move locations because of the Las Vegas Bay Marina and Lake Mead Marina dealing with lower water levels.

Stop and Think

11. Given that long term changes in climate are reducing inflows into the reservoir, and that outflows, through the Hoover Dam are growing to meet demand by an increasing population, what is the projected result in the reservoir? What would you need to know in order to predict the date of the result?

To predict a projected result of a reservoir one would need exactly how much is being used currently as well as the expected increase in human population as this would increase the total output. By the year 2050 the projected results of the average flow will reduce by 35 percent.

12. Based on the data you examined in this lesson as well as other sources, do you think that reservoirs in arid lands prevent or merely postpone water shortages?

I believe that reservoirs merely postpone water shortages. Its like the saying goes “You give a man a fish he can eat for a night, but if you teach a man to fish he can eat for a lifetime.” By giving people water and not making them aware of the possible shortage scenario all we are doing is teaching them to use water although if come up with a long term solution that involves everyone then maybe we can secure water for future use.


6D Stop and Think

13. List the title of the photograph you chose and write a short paragraph to summarize the issue it illustrates.

The photo I chose was the first one showing a helicopter dumping water on a forest fire. This fire is a result of several years of very little rain creating a perfect forest fire environment. The use of water to put out a fire is a unforeseen scenario that should be included in the water usage out of the reservoirs where it was most likely procured from. This fire happened to be in the same year as the one I experienced in Sedona Arizona. It was a very nerve racking time seeing the mountains on fire and knowing the potential to evacuate was highly likely.

14. Summarize the positive outlook with which the researchers end the article.

New technology has been developed and is in the process of being implemented. This new information can help us secure water levels in reservoirs and manage water usage more efficiently. The researchers end on a positive outlook for ensuring the survival of water for the entire Southwest.
 
Work Cited

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/06/us/colorado-river-drought-forces-a-painful-reckoning-for-states.html?_r=0

http://www.usbr.gov/

http://www.lakepowell.org/page_two/information/Lake_Powell_Facts/lake_powell_facts.html