Water case study: Snowy mountains scheme, water transfer

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

1. In the Kosciuszko National Park, Australia - engineering project + HEP scheme that involves 16 major dams, 7 power stations a network of tunnels,pipelines and aqueducts
2. scheme collects + diverts water so it can be used by power stations to create electricity
3. water then flows West into Murray and Murrumbidgee Rivers to irrigate farms + provide water for communities in New South Wales, Victoria + South Australia
4. Work began 1949 finished 1974

Question 2

Negative impacts

Answer 2

1. creation of storage lakes e.g. Lake Eucumbene - destroyed valuable wildlife habitats
2. Snowy River flow fallen to only 1% of its original discharge
3. groundwater overdraft + salinization from low flow and irrigation affected farming in Murray lowlands
4. Water scarcity set farmers against city dwellers as they compete for supplies
5. political fallout forced govts of New South Wales + Victoria to restore some of flow in Snowy River + invest in water saving-projects
6. record droughts in Australia triggered by El Nino have all but used up water allocations of Snowy Mountains scheme