The Colorado River
- Created by: Amy Woodhams
- Created on: 22-04-13 18:37
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- The Colorado River
- Location
- South - West of America
- Source - Rocky Mountains
- Mouth - Gulf of California
- above the dam it flows in a westerly direction
- why was the river dammed?
- much of the river runs through the dessert
- early stutterers in the area dammed the river to provide water for local cities
- much of the water is from the snow on the top of the rocky mountains that melted
- much of the river runs through the dessert
- Dam building
- lake Mead and lake Powell are major tourist centers
- lake Powell offers sailing, power boating, water skiing & fishing so attracts over 2 million tourists per year
- lake Mead and lake Powell are major tourist centers
- Las Vegas
- 37 million visitors every year
- water is becoming increasingly cscarce
- 90% of water is supplied by lake Mead
- much of this water is wasted on...
- swimming pools
- viewed as essential but can only been maintained through irrigation
- golf courses
- viewed as essential but can only been maintained through irrigation
- parks
- viewed as essential but can only been maintained through irrigation
- golf courses
- viewed as essential but can only been maintained through irrigation
- air conditioning
- swimming pools
- much of this water is wasted on...
- the Las Vegas water authority wants to pump around 2 million cubic meters of ground water each year from the aquifer to meet the demands
- this will lower the water table
- springs will dry up, destroying habitats
- oases in the desert are rich in wildlife- 239 species of bird, 27 mammals, 20 reptiles, 5 amphibians and 7 fish
- only 25 others like it in the wold
- oases in the desert are rich in wildlife- 239 species of bird, 27 mammals, 20 reptiles, 5 amphibians and 7 fish
- 90% of water is supplied by lake Mead
- solutions
- recycle water
- cash for grass
- saves water
- city pays households $1 for every sqft of lawn they remove
- saves water
- xeriscape gardens
- saves water
- city pays households $1 for every sqft of lawn they remove
- use dessert friendly plants eg cacti
- saves water
- educate children on the issue
- children can make immediate changes to their house
- shorter showers & don't leave taps running
- they will grow up using water efficianty and not wastefully
- children can make immediate changes to their house
- preserve the water
- don't waste it on luxuaries
- shorter showers & don't leave taps running
- don't waste it on luxuaries
- how important is the natural environment compared to urban lifestyle and jobs?
- they shouldn't have built and urban area in a dessert (Las Vegas)
- wildlife is rare due to the unique environment
- therefore it is already endangered and wont survive without a water supply (the oasis)
- the water is used by animals for survival
- the water will be used by humans as a luxury item
- survival is more important
- higher salt levels will also harm species
- the area is meant to be "protected"
- therefore it is already endangered and wont survive without a water supply (the oasis)
- Location
- lake Mead and lake Powell are major tourist centers
- lake Powell offers sailing, power boating, water skiing & fishing so attracts over 2 million tourists per year
- 400,000 ha of land is irrigated for farming
- Dam building
- Dam building
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