Colorado River

How much of the USA does the river drain?

7%

When did the engineering works of the river start?

20th century

When were the main dams built?

1910-1970

Why are there high rates of removal?

irrigation, industry and declining runoff due to climate change

What can the reduced rates of water lead to?

water shortages, endangering power generation and water supply

Why were development proposals defeated during the construction of the Glen Canyon dam?

citizen opposition

What was drafted in 1920, based on decades of high flow in the river?

Colorado River compact

What did the Colorado river compact result in?

more water being allocated to river users than actually flowing through the river

How full was Lake Powell in 2005?

1/3

How many dams have been built by the Bureau of reclamation?

100

What growing desert cities have a freshwater supply from the river?

Phoenix and Las Vegas

Why has the river been able to increase the standard of living?

Cheap HEP so able to use air conditioning

What opportunities has Lake Mead brought?

Tourism, water sports and fishing

What has flood control done?

improved lives of people downstream as there’s no longer a risk of flooding

What has cheap HEP done economically?

Attracted modern industry which provides jobs

Why is food cheap?

Availability of irrigation for farmland

Why did people have to move off their land?

Valley areas were flooded

What was lost due to flooding?

Burial sites and native American sacred areas

Why are resources under strain?

Increasing population

Why are farmers able to make a bigger profit?

high value crops due to cheap availability of water irrigation

What’s an advantage of an increasing population?

increase in the construction industry

How many people visit the water sports on the Hoover Dam?

700,000

Why are there improved communications?

Roads and infrastructure are needed to build the project

What is a financial burden to the stated that funded the dam?

Cost of construction and maintenance

What does silting do?

reduce the capacity of the river

What does loss of silt downstream do?

Farmers need to apply expensive fertilisers to land

What does high evaporation effects do?

increased salinity and therefore decreases the yield of crops

Total cost of salination per year?

$113 million

How many species of wildlife have been spotted in Lake mead natural park?

250

What about the dams doesn’t contribute to the greenhouse affect?

HEP is renewable energy

How much did Colorado’s salt level increase from the source to the mouth?

From 200 parts per million to 6500

How much did the desalination plant that was built in 1992 cost?

$300 million

How much does Lake Powell lose due to evapouration?

0.76km3

How much does Lake Powell lose due to seepage?

300km3

What unsustainable source is used to top up the river?

Groundwater

What has the Delta of the river turned into?

Saltmarsh

How much does the desalination plant at Yuma cost to maintain per year?

$20 million