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The Colorado River

The Colorado River. Terrascope Group 1. History. Ecology of the river in the past and in the present Colorado River Compact 1922 Past and present use – major projects along the river Physical history – climate and its effect over the last century (Link Group 2).

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The Colorado River

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  1. The Colorado River Terrascope Group 1

  2. History • Ecology of the river in the past and in the present • Colorado River Compact 1922 • Past and present use – major projects along the river • Physical history – climate and its effect over the last century (Link Group 2)

  3. Flow Measurement & Distribution • Control and measurement of flow • Water rationing – equitable distribution (Who gets the water?) • Irrigation (Link Group 4) • Diversions and canals • Output to Mexico (What can be done about it?)

  4. Implementation • Legislative policies, treaties, laws (Link Group 3) • Economic implications – financing management (Link Group 8) • Negative externalities – pollution/misuse upriver negatively affecting downriver locations

  5. Management • Dams (Link Group 7) • Diversions • Levees and embankments • Uses of water – purification, irrigation, etc. • Present efforts to reduce pollution – ecology of river

  6. Improvement & Goals for the Future • Ensure equitable distribution of water – treaties and legislation • Proper management and use of water • Reducing pollution • Increasing sustainability

  7. Group 2- Progress Population and Climate Change

  8. Tentative Timeline • Data collection: Define and assign subtopics for research. Gather information, build database, create relevant graphs/charts. (2 weeks, ends on Monday Sep 29nd) • Data analysis: implications of data, synthesis of information under different topics, information sharing with other groups (1 week, ends on Monday, Oct 6th) • Specific and detailed definition of the causes/problems to be tackled. Any additional research needed is assigned. (2 weeks, ends on Monday, Oct 20th) • Solution(s): Development of solution(s) for the problems defined in the previous step. Presentation polishing, etc. (The rest of the term)

  9. Information-gathering Stage • Population Trends (Past/Future) [Amanda & Ivana] • Causes • Specifically: CA, TX, AZ, NV, CO, Mexico, Canada • North America as a whole • Location of population centers in west • Water used by area/region [Cat] • Locations where water is not a problem (Canada/per capita water use) • Incentives to move (where has this worked?) • Water pollution as dependent on population • Other options • Effects of climate change on agriculture/irrigation [Fan] • How much more water is needed? • Climate change= effect on efficiency of water use • Changes of precipitation, changing state of reservoirs/lakes/rivers [John] • Geographical distribution of water • Pollution/State of water as it reaches Mexico [Chidi] • Acid rain

  10. Research Highlights • Climate Change and Agriculture • Change in temperature/preciptation rates affects plant distribution • CO2 and humidity changes biological functions • Changes in plants’ natural enemies • Population Changes • Population in western US has been growing steadily since the 1880s • Disputes over water began in the early 1800s • Selected groundwater basins currently available to Southern California: Raymond Basin, West Basin, Central Basin, Main San Gabriel Basin, San Fernando Valley, Mojave River Basin, Orange County, Chino Basin

  11. Research Highlights • State of water to Mexico • Desertification • Caused by over-irrigation, over-grazing, or other land abuse • Measures to prevent desertification developed in 1960s; only partially successful • 22 of the 50 largest cities in the U.S. are located in the desert Desertification of North America

  12. Group 3:Trans-Boundary Issues Update as of 9/18/08

  13. Our Mission/Objectives • Analyze current water legislation in the US, Canada, and Mexico • Investigate water regulations that will provide resources for the next 100+ years • Develop the most equitable/fair future water legislation by taking into account: • Population • Economy • Future development

  14. Exploratory Research Group:NAFTA? • NAFTA = North American Free Trade Agreement • Removed trade and investment barriers between Mexico, the United States, and Canada • Includes sections on both environmental and trade issues

  15. NAFTA and Water • Due to geographic imbalances of water, private companies want to sell water internationally • National legislation may prevent this- currently disputed as to whether this is allowed under NAFTA or not • ISSUE: Is water allowed to be sold as a privately owned good?

  16. Exploratory Research Group: United States • Focusing on the disputes across borders within the United States. • Current legislation regulating water between state and county borders. • The information will be used as a comparison to the boundary disputes between nations. • How does United States policy alter between its states and neighboring sovereign countries? • How could current legislation infer future equitable water distribution problems? • How can we improve current legislation?

  17. Potential Sources • Journal Articles • Impact of Politics on the Colorado River Basin Water Agreement: In-Depth Administrative Analysis by Polly Walker • Overarching legislation governing transboundary sources of water • El Paso County of Colorado • City of Colorado Springs, Colorado • Local legislation on city and county water rights • Reflects the opinions of individuals in a particular area, rather than the opinion of their representatives

  18. Exploratory Research Group:Mexico • Analyze current water distribution with Mexico • Does it provide enough clean water? • How do relations with Mexico compare with relations with more developed countries? • To what extent should future legislation account for potential growth/development? • What responsibility does the US have to encourage that growth/development? • How do border disputes affect water regulation?

  19. Exploratory Research Group:Canada • Analyze current water regulation with Canada • Are there any border disputes that complicate water distribution? • How should pollution (beginning in Canada, then US) be managed in future legislation?

  20. IRRIGATION!!! Group 4 ^.^

  21. 0|_||2 />|_@|\| = (our plan)hosted by :1337 5p33(# 1. Sources of water used/how much is used (Jen-group 1, 5, 6) 2. The types of crops grown (Jen, John) 3. What's done with the water after it is used (Megan - group 6) 4. Environmental effects (Sondra, Michelle) 5. Irrigation methods (Ashley, John) 6. How much will all of this cost??? (Tyler, Krupa - group 8)

  22. Group 5: Groundwater Reserves (including Ogallala Aquifer)‏

  23. Natural Recharge • Recharge is promoted by: • Natural vegetation cover • Flat topography • Permeable soil • A deep water table • Ogallala Aquifer • Almost all water comes from rainfall and snowmelt • Less than 25 millimeters (1 inch) annually • No longer water recharge from Rockies Question: With very little recharge, how will the Ogallala Aquifer continue to provide water to the West at its current usage?

  24. Group Six Desalinization (however you feel like spelling it) and Sewage Treatment

  25. ToO

  26. Key Questions:

  27. Improvement & Goals for the Future • Ensure equitable distribution of water – treaties and legislation • Proper management and use of water • Reducing pollution • Increasing sustainability

  28. Water and Energy • Group 007

  29. Our Strategy... • Division of research into 5 subgroups • Types of fuel • Energy Trends • Technology and Research • Water Treatment • Infrastructure & Policy

  30. Conservation/Regulation Colorado River Population Growth Policies to Regulate H20 Supply & Demand Energy Groundwater Reserves Desalination & sewage treatment clarion@mit.edu EconomicsPoints of Interest • Pricing • West Coast: Colorado River • Irrigation • Desalinization • Environment • Climate Change • Groundwater Reserves tburnett@mit.edu

  31. Pricing • Externalities • Ecosystem functions • Rationing • Price (taxes and user fees)‏ • Quantity (permits)‏ • Current research

  32. Environment/Conservation • Contamination • Awareness and education • Irrigation • Biodiversity • Population and livestock use of and impact upon water availability

  33. Regulation & Conservation • Controlling water use • Some water plan (e.g. increased rates for excess consumption)‏ • Work with Pricing group • Protecting current resources • Evaluate current federal and state laws • Laws on usage (amount, which sources)‏ • Limiting damage from industry, recreation, etc

  34. Infrastructure • H2O Supply • Public vs. Private • Water sharing (Canada, Mexico)‏ • Current research

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