What are the key environmental problems associated with the California Delta?
What is causing these problems?
More and more water from the river and its tributaries feeding steel pick for irrigation, not only in the lowlands, but also in the upper reaches are causing the problems. As population, industry, utilities began to grow, they now require more water and especially energy. For power generation at California two large hydro plants were created: dams block the flow of the river, there were large reservoirs, septic tanks, which are at the bottom of the river, sharply slowed, it loses borne alluvium with rugged mountains and canyons of the California Plateau since the mid XX century. California Delta ceased to grow, it became a sea attack, eroding coastal strip.
Why are native fish populations so important?
What are the key threatened species?
What are the key invasive species?
California Delta lost the mouth section of water, abruptly disturbed the ecological balance in the delta, having suffered living in the delta-kukapahi Indians (delta was fed by more than 20000 tribes), who lived by hunting and fishing on aquatic and semi-aquatic delta lands.
How do the interests of Delta farmers differ from those in the Westlands Water District?
The river and its tributaries are controlled by a plurality of dams, reservoirs and diversion canals carrying water inside the Colorado River basin and beyond, and providing water to about 40 million people. The river is widely used to produce electricity. Since the middle of the XX century, the excessive use of water basin for irrigation and other needs has led to what is now Colorado increasingly reaches the Gulf of California, except in the most high-water years. Thus, while some farmers need to use the water before it gets to the others.
How will reductions in water affect growers and in the Westlands irrigation District? How does the Westlands Water District see the shortage of water supply?
Crossing the border with Mexico, the Colorado River forms a vast delta, as flowing into the Gulf of California Pacific Ocean. Once this statement was still quite fair. Over the past 20 years, the river water is only five times reaches the Gulf of California - during the very strong floods. Last rivers and seas kiss took place in the 1998 flood. Thus, the river does no reach the Westlands District as before.
Is it a bad idea to grow “permanent crops” in Kern County and “subsidized crops in the desert?” Why? Why not?
It is a good idea because of bigger amounts of food for those who live in desert. It is bad idea because lack of water will become bigger with each year more and more.
How has real estate development changed the use of the Kern Water Bank rights?
Six US states, whose territory is located in the Colorado River Basin, signed an agreement formally shared basins in the upper part (above Lees Ferry) and lower (below Lees Ferry). Each of the two pools was entitled to use the 9.3 cubic kilometers of water per year - a value that is approximately half the minimum water flow in the area of Lees Ferry. In addition, Arizona did not sign the agreement because of concerns that the CA will use the lower pool is too large amount of water for their needs, leaving only a small part of the needs of Arizona. Et and other treaties and agreements, constituted what is now known as the Law of the River.
Why is it so difficult to change priorities regarding the use of water?
Water flow at the mouth of the river has been steadily declining since the beginning of the XX century, and in the years after 1960 Colorado does not reach the Gulf of California. Expenses for irrigation, evaporation from surface water reservoirs, as well as, perhaps, climate change and help reduce runoff. For example, the Gila River, in the past - one of the largest tributaries of the Colorado, today usually represents only a trickle of water, due to the use of its waters for the needs of farms and settlements in central Arizona
Do water efficiency innovations and diffusion present a viable alternative to the Bay Delta Conservation Plan? Why? Why not?
In the US, gradually formed a new attitude to the use of waters of the Colorado. Many people tend to save water: set more economic flushing cisterns in the toilets and expenditure little water showers. The municipal authorities of the American Southwest try to limit the use of fountains in city design, require home owners to cover the surface of the water basin covers to reduce evaporation. Many do this by taking care of the delta, thus attempting, by joint efforts, to carve out at least 1% of the flow for the resuscitation of the delta.
How might the means of resolving conflict over water described by Hanak et al. serve to address the political, economic and environmental issues identified in the film?
The fact that California is not only the "gold" state, but also the "fire" state is known by everything. A malicious Santa Ana (hot desert wind) and the red-hot dry land to create the ideal conditions of fire - no need to even bring a match, the Sun will take care of it with the help of dead wood on the barren slopes with enough surplus.
On the west coast are already beginning to enter the first restrictions on water consumption, not only in order to save it, but also for a long time and thoroughly undermined fisheries. The farms today almost do not exist because of the huge number of dams blocking the river and cut the fish the way to spawning grounds. The District Court ruled to oblige California residents to consume less water from the delta of the San Dzhoakvin Sacramento River during periods of spawning fish. Restriction applies to Great Central Valley farmers who use water for irrigation River Delta, as well as residents of cities in the Bay Area, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Given that the film was completed in 2012, does the current drought change anything discussed in the film? If so, how?
Nothing important was changed from 2012. Even land became more exhausted because of lack of water.
