SW USA

Question 1

Physical factors

Answer 1

The south and far east of California have received under 300mm of rainfall - nearly 1/3rd of California’s fresh water comes from groundwater sources - La Nina events have brought consistent droughts - spatial imbalance of water - demand for water exceeds supply in the south - ground water demands rose by 60% in drought years - strain on aquifers.

Question 2

Schemes

Answer 2

Colorado Water Scheme - aims at distributing water across the state.

Question 3

Farming

Answer 3

80% of water is used for farming - nearly half of farmers use advanced methods to determine how to best irrigate water - 1.6 million hectares are still flood irrigated - development still needed.

Question 4

Environmental issues

Answer 4

Colorado river delta - massively degraded - flow little more than a trickle.

Question 5

Conflict

Answer 5

Mexico and the US signed a deal in 1944 to construct the Morelos Dam at the border - by the 80s, 80% of the delta forests and wet lands were lost - devastating indigenous communities - changed treaty in 2012 - US have to supply 3 million homes with water.