Water Diversion Webquest
1: Describe the location of the Salton Sea. What is the climate and geography of the
area?
The desert environment around the water is very dry and high in temperature.
2: How did the Salton Sea form?
Explain what role humans played.
The Salton sea was formed from the water runoff from the Colorado River. The water from there moved into
the Salton Sink eventually making the Salton Sea. The humans tried to force a stop to the runoff creating a
greater mess than it already was.
3: What is the present condition of this body of water? How has it changed over the last
25 years? Why?
The sea currently contains a lot of DO. Due to the water not being able to move, the evaporation is making the
water lose it's volume. The last 25 years, the salton sea was getting saltier over the period.
4: Describe several ways the Salton Sea has altered the ecosystem of the region. Explain
the stability of that ecosystem. How is it changing over time?
The dissolved oxygen and saltiness of the sea is creating an environment unfit for many of the original fish.
Many of the fish are dying from the conditions leaving mostly talapia. This caused a low species diversity.
5: Outline 3 environmental and 3 economic reasons the Salton Sea is important.
Environmental:
Economical:
6: What steps are being taken to remediate the Salton Sea? What are the chances of
success? Explain.
Not much has been done to remediate the Salton sea making small chances of the situation successfully
cleaned.
7: Compare the similarities and differences between the Salton Sea and Lake Chad in
Sub-Saharan Africa. (Make a VENN Diagram)
The Aral Sea
1: Where is the Aral Sea located?
Kazakhstan
2: Which rivers mainly supply the Aral Sea?
3: What government agency is responsible for the Aral Sea and its plight?
The World Bank Uzbek Mission
4: Why was the water supply to the Sea
diverted?
It was used to irrigate a part of the dessert to grow crops.
5: What resources did the Aral Sea supply to the local inhabitants?
6: Describe 3 negative environmental effects of the fading of this sea.
8: How is the situation of the Salton Sea similar to the Aral Sea? How is it different?
They are both experiencing loss of water. They are different because one contains toxic chemicals.
9: How would you describe this region today, other than as a “sea”?
It is one of the largest lakes in the world.
10: Explain five health effects on people related to the vanishing Aral Sea.
11: How can the Aral Sea be realistically rehabilitated?
One way is that the irrigation canals can be improved in its quality.
12: Compare the situation in Mono Lake, California with that of the Aral Sea
• How did the Mono Lake problem arise?
Water from the Mono Basin Streams was diverted from the LA Department of Water and Power
• Describe 3 ways the problems of Mono Lake are similar to those of the Aral Sea
13: Summarize the proposal and actions to remediate Mono Lake
The lake had regulations to let it rise back to 6392 ft. of elevation.
Colorado River Basin
1: Compare water diversion influences on the Colorado River with those on the Salton
Sea and the Aral Sea. Describe three ways they are different.
The Colorado river flows into a bay. Because it flows into a bay, the level of water is not affected.
2: Look at the map- Where is the source of the Colorado River?What are some of the main tributaries and their source?
What is the most important origin of the water in the Colorado River?
The source of the river comes from the Glen Canyon Dam
3: Politics: Who decides where the water in the river system goes? How is the
resource divided between the various states in the watershed and beyond?
The Colorado Compact decides it from the seven local states around the river.
4: How do the individual states use the water? Who are the top five consumers of the water?
Water moves through the dams which reaches a system of aqueducts.
It is used in agriculture, drinking water, and livestock
5: Describe some of the conflicts that arise over water use. How are they usually resolved?
When a dish becomes endangered the conflicts arise. It is resolved through conferences that decide the best
way to use the water.
6: How are conflicts between public and private use managed?
It is managed from the Colorado River Salinity Control Program.
7: Serious differences with Mexico exist concerning the amount of water the Mexicans
receive from the river. Explain why this problem exists and what can be done to work
out this dispute between the countries.
It exists due to drought and climate change. It was resolved through the Colorado River Conflict.
8: The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers cross international boundaries in their path to the
Persian Gulf. Why is this problem potentially greater than the one that exists on the
Colorado River?
These rivers are considered more arid.
9: Compare the problem of water diversions on the Yangtze River in China with those of
the Colorado River.
Their use is for their unstable populations.
10: The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is very controversial. Why is this dam
being built?
Canyon Dam or Hoover Dam, with respect to:
• the disruption of human life
• impact on the environment
• archaeology
• local culture and natural beauty
The biodiversity of was decreased as the yangtze has 300 species that were not able to move upstream while
Colorado has only 4. The many habitats were destroyed from the 3 gorges. A large amount of people also had
to force themselves to move out of the location.
Water Diversion- FRQ
Q: The Colorado River runs 1,450 from the headwaters of the Rocky Mountains to the
Gulf of California. The primary source of Colorado River water is melting Rocky
Mountain snowpack. Once the river descends from the Rockies, it flows through a
landscape that is dominated by desert. Colorado River water carries a high load of sediment. The river has many dams, aqueducts and canals that divert the water in order
to supply for electricity, irrigation, recreation, and domestic use.
a: Describe and discuss two environmental issues associated with water diversion
projects. Identify two benefits other than agriculture and recreation that people derive
from that system of dams.
One environmental issue is the loss of biodiversity as many of the organisms have to move themselves out.
Another problem is habitat loss. Two benefits from agriculture and recreation are availability of drinking water
benefit of having fish as food.
b: If there is a shortage of water, decisions will have to be made as to whether the water
should be diverted to urban areas, agricultural areas, or natural ecosystems. Make an
argument for diverting water for urban consumption, and an argument for permitting
the water to flow to natural areas.
The diversion of water can be used to get a clean source of drinking water. Allowing the water to pass
will let the habitats grow and restore.
c: Identify another example (other than the Colorado River) of a large-scale water
diversion project. Discuss two environmental problems that have resulted or might
result from this project.
One example of diversion would be the Three Gorges Dam which ended with a release of diseases and loss of
biodiversity as it killed off many species and misplaced them.
d; Identify two possible environmental consequences of climate change on the
hydrology of the Colorado River system.
One consequence would be a change in temperature making the environment of the system unfit for the
fragile fish. Another one would be a change in precipitation making the river overflow or lose water.
e: In addition to impacts on the Colorado River system, climate change is impacting the
hydrology of coastal ecosystems. Identify and describe TWO possible consequences of
climate change on coastal ecosystems.
One consequence would be a change in living patterns for the organisms in the ecosystem as some need
a certain temperature to comfortably live. Another consequence would be the change in salanity
concentrations.
area?
The desert environment around the water is very dry and high in temperature.
2: How did the Salton Sea form?
Explain what role humans played.
The Salton sea was formed from the water runoff from the Colorado River. The water from there moved into
the Salton Sink eventually making the Salton Sea. The humans tried to force a stop to the runoff creating a
greater mess than it already was.
3: What is the present condition of this body of water? How has it changed over the last
25 years? Why?
The sea currently contains a lot of DO. Due to the water not being able to move, the evaporation is making the
water lose it's volume. The last 25 years, the salton sea was getting saltier over the period.
4: Describe several ways the Salton Sea has altered the ecosystem of the region. Explain
the stability of that ecosystem. How is it changing over time?
The dissolved oxygen and saltiness of the sea is creating an environment unfit for many of the original fish.
Many of the fish are dying from the conditions leaving mostly talapia. This caused a low species diversity.
5: Outline 3 environmental and 3 economic reasons the Salton Sea is important.
Environmental:
- Birds stop there while migrating
- Diversity of the lake could be crucial to the ecosystem
- Fishing is a source of food for the local populations
Economical:
- Recreational activities
- Agriculture
- Tourism
6: What steps are being taken to remediate the Salton Sea? What are the chances of
success? Explain.
Not much has been done to remediate the Salton sea making small chances of the situation successfully
cleaned.
7: Compare the similarities and differences between the Salton Sea and Lake Chad in
Sub-Saharan Africa. (Make a VENN Diagram)
- Salton Sea: Becoming a greater concentration of salinity
- Lake Chad: Becoming smaller in size of water
- Both similarities: Both are in a state of turmoil.
The Aral Sea
1: Where is the Aral Sea located?
Kazakhstan
2: Which rivers mainly supply the Aral Sea?
- Amu Darya
- Syr Darya
3: What government agency is responsible for the Aral Sea and its plight?
The World Bank Uzbek Mission
4: Why was the water supply to the Sea
diverted?
It was used to irrigate a part of the dessert to grow crops.
5: What resources did the Aral Sea supply to the local inhabitants?
- Fish
- Commerce
- Transportation
- Recreation
6: Describe 3 negative environmental effects of the fading of this sea.
- Ecosystems and biodiversity crashed as the aral sea was the only area rich of environment
- High salinity of the water made it toxic
- The drying sea left the dry land salty with toxins.
- 1/6th oh died
- destruction of muskrat trapping industry
- many lost their main/ only source of food
8: How is the situation of the Salton Sea similar to the Aral Sea? How is it different?
They are both experiencing loss of water. They are different because one contains toxic chemicals.
9: How would you describe this region today, other than as a “sea”?
It is one of the largest lakes in the world.
10: Explain five health effects on people related to the vanishing Aral Sea.
- Digestive Disorders
- Anaemia
- Liver and kidney disorders
- Higher cancer rate
- High Rate of lung diseases
11: How can the Aral Sea be realistically rehabilitated?
One way is that the irrigation canals can be improved in its quality.
12: Compare the situation in Mono Lake, California with that of the Aral Sea
• How did the Mono Lake problem arise?
Water from the Mono Basin Streams was diverted from the LA Department of Water and Power
• Describe 3 ways the problems of Mono Lake are similar to those of the Aral Sea
- One depleted from diversions
- Both had a huge increase in salinity
- Both had big consequences for the ecosystems
- Mono Lake had someone save it
- The water from mono lake was used to help the people
- Shrimp was still able to live in the lake
13: Summarize the proposal and actions to remediate Mono Lake
The lake had regulations to let it rise back to 6392 ft. of elevation.
Colorado River Basin
1: Compare water diversion influences on the Colorado River with those on the Salton
Sea and the Aral Sea. Describe three ways they are different.
The Colorado river flows into a bay. Because it flows into a bay, the level of water is not affected.
2: Look at the map- Where is the source of the Colorado River?What are some of the main tributaries and their source?
What is the most important origin of the water in the Colorado River?
The source of the river comes from the Glen Canyon Dam
3: Politics: Who decides where the water in the river system goes? How is the
resource divided between the various states in the watershed and beyond?
The Colorado Compact decides it from the seven local states around the river.
4: How do the individual states use the water? Who are the top five consumers of the water?
Water moves through the dams which reaches a system of aqueducts.
It is used in agriculture, drinking water, and livestock
5: Describe some of the conflicts that arise over water use. How are they usually resolved?
When a dish becomes endangered the conflicts arise. It is resolved through conferences that decide the best
way to use the water.
6: How are conflicts between public and private use managed?
It is managed from the Colorado River Salinity Control Program.
7: Serious differences with Mexico exist concerning the amount of water the Mexicans
receive from the river. Explain why this problem exists and what can be done to work
out this dispute between the countries.
It exists due to drought and climate change. It was resolved through the Colorado River Conflict.
8: The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers cross international boundaries in their path to the
Persian Gulf. Why is this problem potentially greater than the one that exists on the
Colorado River?
These rivers are considered more arid.
9: Compare the problem of water diversions on the Yangtze River in China with those of
the Colorado River.
Their use is for their unstable populations.
10: The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is very controversial. Why is this dam
being built?
- It can provide electricity
- It can stop floods.
Canyon Dam or Hoover Dam, with respect to:
• the disruption of human life
• impact on the environment
• archaeology
• local culture and natural beauty
The biodiversity of was decreased as the yangtze has 300 species that were not able to move upstream while
Colorado has only 4. The many habitats were destroyed from the 3 gorges. A large amount of people also had
to force themselves to move out of the location.
Water Diversion- FRQ
Q: The Colorado River runs 1,450 from the headwaters of the Rocky Mountains to the
Gulf of California. The primary source of Colorado River water is melting Rocky
Mountain snowpack. Once the river descends from the Rockies, it flows through a
landscape that is dominated by desert. Colorado River water carries a high load of sediment. The river has many dams, aqueducts and canals that divert the water in order
to supply for electricity, irrigation, recreation, and domestic use.
a: Describe and discuss two environmental issues associated with water diversion
projects. Identify two benefits other than agriculture and recreation that people derive
from that system of dams.
One environmental issue is the loss of biodiversity as many of the organisms have to move themselves out.
Another problem is habitat loss. Two benefits from agriculture and recreation are availability of drinking water
benefit of having fish as food.
b: If there is a shortage of water, decisions will have to be made as to whether the water
should be diverted to urban areas, agricultural areas, or natural ecosystems. Make an
argument for diverting water for urban consumption, and an argument for permitting
the water to flow to natural areas.
The diversion of water can be used to get a clean source of drinking water. Allowing the water to pass
will let the habitats grow and restore.
c: Identify another example (other than the Colorado River) of a large-scale water
diversion project. Discuss two environmental problems that have resulted or might
result from this project.
One example of diversion would be the Three Gorges Dam which ended with a release of diseases and loss of
biodiversity as it killed off many species and misplaced them.
d; Identify two possible environmental consequences of climate change on the
hydrology of the Colorado River system.
One consequence would be a change in temperature making the environment of the system unfit for the
fragile fish. Another one would be a change in precipitation making the river overflow or lose water.
e: In addition to impacts on the Colorado River system, climate change is impacting the
hydrology of coastal ecosystems. Identify and describe TWO possible consequences of
climate change on coastal ecosystems.
One consequence would be a change in living patterns for the organisms in the ecosystem as some need
a certain temperature to comfortably live. Another consequence would be the change in salanity
concentrations.