Unit 8 Exam - Chapter 13 Flashcards

Question

Withdrawing Groundwater : Advantages

Answer 1

Useful for drinking and irrigation Exists almost everywhere Renewable if not over pumped or contaminated Cheaper to extract than most surface waters

Answer 2

Aquifer depletion from overpumping Sinking of land (subsidence) from overpumping Some deeper aquifers are nonrenewable Pollution of aquifers lasts decades or centuries

Answer 3

OVERPUMPED largest known aquifer Irrigates the Great Plains Very slow recharge Water table dropping Water pumped 10–40 times faster than recharge rate Government farm subsidies result in further depletion Biodiversity threatened in some areas

Answer 4

Use water more efficiently Subsidize water conservation Limit number of wells Stop growing water-intensive crops in dry areas

Answer 5

Raise price of water to discourage waste Tax water pumped from wells near surface water Build rain gardens in urban areas Use permeable paving material on streets, sidewalks, and driveways

Answer 6

Limits food production and raises prices Widens gap between rich and poor

Answer 7

San Joaquin Valley in California Mexico City

Answer 8

Groundwater overdrafts near coastal regions Contamination of groundwater with saltwater

Answer 9

Large dam-and-reservoir systems Greatly expanded water supplies in some areas Disrupted ecosystems and displaced people EX: Chatfield Reservoir, Reallocation Project

Answer 10

Capture and store runoff Release runoff as needed for: Flood control Generating electricity Supplying irrigation water Recreation (reservoirs)

Answer 11

Increase the reliable runoff available for use

Answer 12

Displace people Impair ecological services of rivers- What are some ecological services of rivers? Endanger plant and animal species Fill up with sediment within 50 years

Answer 13

Oroville dam in California was compromised by extremely heavy rainfall after a severe drought Main spillway was damaged which almost caused the weir to collapse 180,000 people were evacuated with only an hour’s notice.

Answer 14

Weir? is a small barrier built across a stream or river to control and raise the water level slightly on the upstream side. It generally allows the water to flow over the crest (which is the top) or sometimes underneath some sections.

Answer 15

Mountain snowpack will be reduced, making less freshwater available downstream When water levels drop, hydroelectric dams cannot function Colorado River will not be able to meet water needs in Arizona, New Mexico, and California

Answer 16

Only a small amount of Colorado River water reaches Gulf of California Threatens aquatic species in river and species that live in the estuary Current rate of river withdrawal is not sustainable Inefficient use of irrigation water for agriculture

Answer 17

Enact strict conservation measures Phase out agricultural subsidies Shift water-thirsty crops to less arid areas Raise the price of freshwater

Answer 18

2014: Morelos dam near Yuma, AZ opened for two months to release water through the delta to the Gulf of California Dramatic short-term results

Answer 19

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires that an environmental impact statement be developed for every federal project likely to have an effect on environmental quality Impact on water, soils, air quality, wildlife habitat, etc

Answer 20

Distillation Reverse osmosis More than 17,000 desalination plants currently operating in 150 countries Most in arid nations of Middle East, North Africa, Caribbean, and Mediterranean

Answer 21

Issues: high cost, high energy use, and large amounts of salty wastewater

Answer 22

Transferring water from one place to another has greatly increased water supplies in some areas Has also disrupted ecosystems

Answer 23

Has also disrupted ecosystems Water loss through evaporation and leaks Ecosystem degradation

Answer 24

China - South-North Water Diversion Project Diverts six trillion gallons of water per year California central valley - Aqueducts

Answer 25

Large-scale water transfers in dry central Asia have led to: Wetland destruction Desertification Greatly increased salinity Fish extinctions and decline of fishing Blowing salt and dust destroying wildlife and crops Increased glacial melting in the Himalayas

Answer 26

Hot, dry summers, colder winters, and a shortened growing season

Answer 27

Cooperation of neighboring countries- Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan More efficient irrigation Dike construction raised level of Northern Aral Sea

Answer 28

Cut water waste Raise water prices Slow population growth Protect aquifers, forests, and other ecosystems that store and release freshwater

Answer 29

One-half to two-thirds of water is wasted Evaporation, leaks, and inefficient use

Answer 30

The cost of water to users is low Government subsidies mask the true cost of water No subsidies for improved efficiency

Answer 31

Raising prices could hurt lower-income farmers and city dwellers Solution: establish lifeline rates for low income users

Answer 32

Avoid growing thirsty crops in dry areas Import water-intensive crops and meat Encourage organic farming and polyculture to retain soil moisture Monitor soil moisture to add water only when necessary Expand use of drip irrigation and other efficient methods irrigates at night to reduce evaporation line canals that bring water to irrigation ditches irrigates with treated wastewater

Answer 33

Flood irrigation - 45% of water lost Not efficient / efficiency needs to be improved

Answer 34

Center pivot, low pressure sprinkler Low-energy, precision application sprinklers- LEPA Drip or trickle irrigation, micro irrigation ----- Costly ----- Less water waste

Answer 35

Human-powered treadle pumps bring water into irrigation ditches Harvest and store rainwater Capture water from fog Use polyculture to create canopy vegetation Reduces evaporation Use no till agriculture- leaving plants on soil reduces runoff and keeps the temperature down which reduces evaporation and transpiration

Answer 36

Redesign manufacturing Process to Use Less Water Recycle water in industry Fix water leaks Landscape yard with plants that require little water Use drip irrigation for gardens and lawns Use water-saving showerheads, appliances, and toilets (or waterless composting toilets) Collect and reuse gray water in and around houses, office buildings, and apartments Raise water prices and use meters, especially in dry urban areas

Answer 37

Recycle water used in industry Use low-flow toilets, showerheads, and front-loading washing machines Fix leaks in the plumbing systems - A leaky faucet that drips at the rate of one drip per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year. That's the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers Use native plants in landscaping Use gray water Water meters reduce water use

Answer 38

water that already has been used domestically, commercially and industrially. This includes the leftover, untreated water

Answer 39

use water saving toilets, showerheads, and faucets take short showers instead of baths turn off sink faucets while brushing teeth, shaving, or washing wash only full loads of clothes or use the lowest possible water-level setting for smaller loads repair water leaks wash your car from a bucket of soapy water, use gray water, and use hose for rinsing only if you use a commercial car wash, try to find one that recycles its water replace your lawn with native plants that need little of any watering water lawns and gardens in the early morning or evening and use gray water use drip irrigation and mulch for gardens and flowerbeds

Answer 40

Large amounts of freshwater used to flush away wastes

Answer 41

Only about 7% of wastewater is currently recycled- some of our clean treated sewage water is put back in McLellan reservoir for reuse

Answer 42

Protecting more wetlands and natural vegetation in watersheds Not building in areas subject to frequent flooding

Answer 43

Area flooded when a stream overflows its channel Fertile soils for farming Recharge groundwater and refill wetlands

Answer 44

Vegetation removal Draining of wetlands Rising sea levels from global warming means more coastal flooding

Answer 45

Dense population on coastal floodplain Moderate floods maintain fertile soil Recent increased frequency of severe floods Destruction of coastal wetlands Mangrove forests cleared Increased storm damage Adapting: using more flood-tolerant crops

Answer 46

preserve forests in watersheds preserve and restore wetlands on floodplains Increase use of floodplains for sustainable agriculture and forestry

Answer 47

Strengthen and deepen streams (channelization) Build levees or floodwalls along streams Build dams