Chris Linsmayer
10/20/10
ENST Senior Seminar
Research Outline
The Colorado River
Population expanses has caused degradation to the Colorado River ecosystem
· Damsà Hoover Dam
· Pollutionà historically as well as today
· Problems to fix the degradation
o Prior Appropriation
o Big Industry
o States v States
River used to exist in pristine condition
· John Wesley Powell Expedition in 1869
o Saw potential for Agriculture
o River flowed unhindered all the way to the Gulf of California
Population Increases Result in Dams
· Hoover DamàBoulder Canyon Dam Project
o Dams seen as part of humans conquest over nature and in positive way
o Battle to begin development on Colorado
· Battle between California and other states
· US v Mexico
· Colorado River Compactà1922
· Upper Basin v Lower Basin
· Problems of the CompactàMAF not correct
· Congress finally steps in 1928
o Benefits
· Control of flooding in the Imperial Valley
· All American canal ensured Mexico had no right to the water
· Also a consistent source of water to the Imperial Valley
· Supply of water other than for agriculture
· Electric Output of the Dam
o Negative Impact of Damsà Not just Hoover, but with focus on Hoover
· Disrupted Water flow
· Destruction of habitatàExtinctions
1. Through regulated flows
2. Loss of flow of energy and food
· Loss of Sediment Flow down the riveràLoss of Habitat
· Causes sediment to gather on the bottom/banks of reservoir instead of the rivers bank
1. Hardly any sediment or water now makes it to the Gulf of Californiaàbad for fisheries
· Pollution
· Historically the river was used as a water source for mining from 1820s on
1. Hydraulic Mining ruining agricultural land
· Mining for natural gas and uranium continues along the river and these mines continue to use water and pollute
1. Potential for oil underneath the banks
§ Drilling means we’re less dependent on foreign oil and the Middle East?
· Pollution not directly from the dams
1. From 3 things
§ Contaminated ground water from human waste, radioactive material, perchlorate from rocket fuel during Cold War
· Concentration of the Pollutants
1. Threat to recreational use
§ Bad for childhood development
§ Bad for species within the river’s ecosystem
Problems to finding a solution
· Prior Appropriation
o “First in Time, First in Right”
o Beneficial Consumptive Use can be easy to prove
§ Prevents more water from flowing down river
§ Places unfair burden on later appropriators
· Restrictions on transferring water rightsàeconomic inefficiency
· States v States
o All states want as much water as possible for themselves
§ Problems with the Colorado River Compact
· Trying to prove prior appropriation + pass less water downstream b/c of poor science in the CRC
· Lobbying Efforts of Corporations
o Mining Industry
§ Trying to ensure that environmental regulations remain as low as possible to mine for natural gas and uranium
o Recreation Industry
§ Want as much water in the Reservoirs during high times of recreationàLabor Day, Memorial Day, etc.