Colorado river

Question 1

Who has the river Colorado been controlled?

Answer 1

Around 20 dams have been built by the US bureau of reclamation.

Question 2

Why is the river controlled?

Answer 2

1. Stores water for dry season.
2. Pumped to areas of desert or drought.
3. Dams produce cheap electricity.
4. Reclaim deserts for farming or urban developments.

Question 3

What are good examples of success?

Answer 3

1. Fruit and vegetables can be grown in Imperial valley which improves food supplies and economy.
2. Mohave and Lake mead has created new recreational areas.

Question 4

What are the economic losses of controlling the Colorado?

Answer 4

1. Increased income from farming.
2. New industries attracted by new image and hydro- electric power.
3. Cheap electricity from dams means less dependent on imported crude oil.
4. Tourists are attracted to the dams and Grand Canyon.

Question 5

What are the economic losses of controlling the Colorado?

Answer 5

1. Fast growing urban developments put stress on water supplies.
2. Reclamation has cost a lot of money.

Question 6

What are the environmental gains of controlling the Colorado?

Answer 6

1. New wildlife attracted to areas around the reservoir.
2. Water allows vegetation to grow.
3. Hydro- electric power means less fossil fuels burnt.
4. Flood risks reduced.

Question 7

What are the environmental losses of controlling the Colorado?

Answer 7

1. Unsustainable urban developments put pressure on groundwater reserves and aquifers.
2. Human errors may lead to flooding.
3. Increased extraction of water increases concentration of salts which can harm vegetation.

Question 8

What are the social gains of controlling the Colorado?

Answer 8

1. New cities attract new businesses which can reduce unemployment.
2. New leisure opportunities in resorts and marinas.

Question 9

What are the social losses of controlling the Colorado?

Answer 9

1. Wealth attracts crime.

2. Mexico only gets 1% of water.

Question 10

What went wrong in 1983?

Answer 10

1. Engineers didn’t see the need to increase the discharge of dams.
2. A sudden heatwave and thunderstorms meant reservoirs filled up very quickly. This led to flooding which damaged resorts and marinas along the Colorado.