Colorado River Case Study - A level Geography

Who are stakeholders?

Farmers

City Dwellers

Environmentalist and Recreationalists

Indigenous groups

Mexican people

The US Federal government

Farmers

receive 80% of water allocation but most is wasted on flood irrigation and inappropriate choices of crop

City Dwellers

most areas are becoming increasingly more urbanised and demand more water, Arizona now using its full share of water for Phoenix and Tucson so fight for water is increasing

Environmentalist and Recreationalists

more people using the lakes from recreational purposes which is threatening lakeshore areas

Indigenous groups

native Americans along the river have water rights through treaties and agreements from the 1880's which are now being questioned leading to legal battles

Mexican people

90% of water used before the river reaches Mexico, wetlands that were located on the delta are now a large mudflat so the delta has been reduced in size causing local fisherman to move elsewhere as there is little fish stock left.

The US federal government

under pressure from politicians not to change water allocations, plans to line the canal with concrete to improve water conservation however groundwater wouldn't be able to get through limiting supplies to Mexico but Mexico is using more than their allocation. This can cause conflict between US and Mexico making other issues more strict e.g. illegal immigration and drug smuggling

What are the controversial issues? (2 points)

- Measures have been taken to prevent floods, generate electricity and provide water for homes and agriculture however there is now a view, which suggests that these measures have been costly, inefficient, divisive and environmentally damaging.

- Another major issue is the river runs through 7 states and parts of Mexico so there are conflicts surrounding territorial sovereignty and integrity (how much each area uses and what they do along the river e.g. dams).

What are the benefits and to whom?

⦁ Flood control - Farmers and Mexican people (most groups as less water wasted)

⦁ Power to pump the water - all groups other than environmentalists as they have access to more water and environmentalists would want less water as it would attract more tourism

⦁ Domestic water supply - mainly US federal government as they don't have to rely on other places to get water supplies

⦁ Irrigation for agriculture - Farmers, improves crop yield

⦁ Industrial development - US federal government increased development and improves economy

⦁ Sediment control - Environmentalists, flow and species are not affected as much

⦁ Recreation opportunities - Recreationalists, more interest so developing industry

⦁ Wildlife protection - Environmentalists, one less issue to deal with

What are the problems and to whom?

⦁ Water loss through evaporation and seepage - all groups as less water to go round so possible shortages

⦁ Salinisation - farmers mainly as crops could fail but also other groups as water may need to be treated to reduce salinisation to make water safe to drink

⦁ Groundwater overdraft - US federal government and environmentalist costly process economically and environmentally

⦁ Wastewater - all groups, can lead to water shortages

⦁ Environmental damage - environmentalists, major conflicts with many people involved in the process of damaging the environment

How has the issue changed over time?

⦁ 50 years ago free flowing river now has 4 major dams and reservoirs, hundreds of smaller dams, a network of aqueducts and canals that supply water to farmers, ranchers and cities

⦁ Legal pacts in 1922 and 1944 allocate more water to the states in the river's upper basin (Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico) and lower basin (Arizona, Nevada and California) and to Mexico, than now flows through the river, even in years without a drought

⦁ The Colorado River basin now includes some of the driest lands in the US

⦁ So many withdrawals means the river rarely makes it to the Gulf of California

⦁ Due to increased population now demand for water is still increasing so available supplies are decreasing rapidly

Minute 319

Agreement 2014 to enable river to flow into Mexico - geopolitics (After an earthquake that limited storage of water - agreement to restore some flow to restore the delta)

"Use it or lose it" rule

Laws supports "Use it or lose it" rule - farmers encouraged to use the water to increase production of alfalfa - Cattle feed stations support cattle ranching

how much in revenue and from what?

The Colorado river generates $26 billion of revenue from tourism a year (fishing, rafting)

Trans evaporation process has led to what?

Trans evaporation process/albedo (Snow cover has reduced in the Elk Mountains, Colorado) Dust from industry has led to greater levels of trans-evaporation from glaciers

what did the 22 Transbasin diversion projects accomplish

22 Transbasin diversion projects (Pipe-works) have led to the Colorado flowing at 50% of its traditional capacity

Industry (2 points)

Industry - Potash (supports fertiliser production)/Oil and gas (1-5 million gallons of water used per well

Industry - Agriculture (irrigation)/Farming (Nations Salad bowl and cattle ranching) - largest user of water