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EAP2 WW 053
Research Paper - Final Draft
Date : 06/27/2005
Abstract: The Colorado River used to be one of the most sustainable ecosystem of the United States in the past. In the past the Colorado River had; the fertility of native fish, water and surroundings nearby. Today the Colorado River still has all those things even if it is far from what the Colorado river was. Right now the Colorado River is no more than a rich heritage of the western states. There is not much water to store in the Colorado River, a little native fish left in the river, and also the environment close by does not thrive any more. These phenomena occur after dams are built, more water is used by increasing populations, and there is some drought in the western states. How to halt these problems right away ? The solution right now is; sharing more water rights for drought problem and this water sharing agreement must be approved among those western states. Another solution is; using a long term project named “ blueprint” which will help to preserve more native fish and also solve most of the problems from a dam. Because of the serious situations of the Colorado River above, we can no longer put off the Colorado River’s problems. It is time to pull out its problems. Even though the solutions that we have now are not the best way to help the Colorado River return exactly all the way back, but at least the Colorado River will not be more damaged. It is better to try something than waiting for nothing or waiting for the end. This is even worse.
Which is more precious between gold and water ? There is nothing more valuable than water in the desert. The Colorado River has been supplying millions people with water in the United States and Mexico since over ten thousand years ago. As I never knew anything else of Colorado except Rocky Mountain, so after I have searched about Colorado River articles, the power of Colorado River makes impression on me, and I want to know more about it. The Colorado River is a main river that is used widely in the western states. It is used for farmlands, cities and also habitats of fish. If we look back to the history of Colorado River, it created the Grand Canyon. And also there were lots of fish (native fish) and lots of water in it. Nowadays, the Colorado River changes. It lacks native fish, but it is instead inhabited by non-native fish. Moreover there is less water of Colorado River - which is the main source of water in Southwestern of the United States where there are lots of populations, but the demand is increasing. The problems that are happening to Colorado River are dams, drought and water sharing rights. These causes make the Colorado River difference from it was. However there are some solutions to these problems. They are the blueprint project, the equally sharing water right, the water agreement, and the appropriate water using.
A dam is the construction which is built to provide water and power for people through the Southwest. A dam usually serves farmers and city dwellers, but it is not good for fish in Colorado River especially native fish as razorback. Why is a dam not good for river’s natural functions and native fish? It is because a dam makes the flow of river change. When the direction of river changes, that makes the river water not go through all of the area than it should. Thus many states have less water because water is blocked by dams. And a dam also makes a limited area for native fish that they get stuck to go as they want. Furthermore, a dam stimulates the growth of algae and some foods which are good for non-native fish such as carp. This causes non-native fish more expanding in the river. Non-native fish is an enemy of native fish because non-native fish eats larvae of native fish which causes the decreasing of native fish in the Colorado River. According to US Department of the Interior (2002, p.2), “today, seven of nine freshwater fish native to the Lower Colorado River are federally listed as endanger, Wild populations of humpback chub, Sonoran topminnow, desert pupfish, woundfin, Colorado pike minnow, bonytail, and razorback.
However, it is not just a dam that makes problems for the Colorado River. A lack of the Colorado River water is another issue right now. According to J. Baird (2004), there is a serious drought among the seven states for six years and “the worst drought in one hundred years has placed unprecedented strains on water users in both the upper and lower parts of the Colorado River basin.” Both combine of drought and the fastest populations growing in the western states, who demand to use more water in each state that really make more lack of water in the Colorado River. Any states, therefore, try to have more water of Colorado River that no longer thrive as in the past.
The above issue leads to the last problem which is water sharing rights among those seven states. Those seven states are Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Arizona and California (Joe Baird, 2004). The biggest consumers competing to use the Colorado River are Nevada, Arizona and California. But the most recent water sharing rights agreement are between Southern Nevada and Arizona. 1.25 million Acre-feet is the amount of Colorado River water that Southern Nevada wants from Arizona (Henry Brean, 2004). For this allowance Arizona will get $330 million from Southern Nevada(Henry Brean, 2004). It is really a huge amount of money, but this is what Southern Nevada wants for now and for future. Even though there is not any problem for this pact. But in attempting to exploit more water from the Colorado River in those seven states, thereby the sharing water agreement will not be easy for all those states.
There are many plans and strategies to solve those problems that the Colorado River is encountering nowadays. As I have read lots of Colorado River articles, I do agree with the solutions in those articles which is one from Mike Lee, 2005 that shows the solution that a dam makes. It is a long term project called “ blueprint” at the Hoover dam in Nevada to preserve native fish for next fifty years. There are about twenty six species of native fish which are certainly razorback and another twenty five native fish species. All these native fish will be raised in the hatchery that the project provides and these native fish will be back to the predator-free environment when they grow enough to fend themselves from other fish. In addition to this plan, it also focus “ to prevent the kind of Endangered Species Act Enforcement that has disrupted water deliveries elsewhere in effects to protect endangered fish” (Mike Lee, 2005).The other considering of dams solution is to move a dams off. Some group think about how it is possible to move dams. However, the water and power agencies hope “ blueprint” will work out instead of getting rid of dams. I concur this idea even though this plan will cost a huge budget which is $ 626 million according to Mike Lee, (2005). What I think is; to destroy dams is more worse because the leftovers from dams destruction are just useless tools. No more benefits for anything around. It is just like a trash. And also most of the time when you redo, or repair something, it usually costs you more budget and waste more time. The reality is nobody realizes that. In the other hand, to have a new thing to resolve problems is a good idea for me. Thus, I believe the “ blueprint” project will be such an excellent method to solve whatsoever problems from dams.
For the solution of lacking water from drought, each state tries to ask for more Colorado River water. This commitment is though related to another concern which is sharing water rights. So I will state the solution of these problems together. As each state attempts to get more water as it can. For instance, Southern Nevada wants 1.25 million Acre-feet of Colorado River water with Arizona by giving $330 million to Arizona for this amount of water. “This is the second interstate water agreement into which Nevada has entered this year” (Henry Brean, 2004). And in October there will have another concern of Colorado River water of California. So it is no longer to be individual problems in each state. What it works for these problems. The supervisor in each state will find more ways to expand the sharing of Colorado River water than it does in the past to each state that needs to. And then each state needs to make a compact to share the Colorado River water (Baird, 2004). In addition to solve these two problems, it should be more cooperation for anyone who is involved of Colorado River water. And also it should have a balance demand of using Colorado River water for any reasons. We need to have a right amount in the right area at any given time. These ideas do not just make the Colorado River survive, but it also makes the Colorado River back to the plentiful resource. It will be great if everyone compromises to solve the Colorado River’s problems. As it is a globalization now, any problems can affect to the others eventually. There is no more to say I am individual. I will not face any problems, or I will not have that problem. At the end everyone, and everything on earth will get effects of whatsoever problems on the planet. Thus, everyone should get together to resolve the problems instead of doing on his own.
To sum up, dams, drought and water sharing rights are the most concerning of the Colorado River now. Although there are many ways to figure the Colorado River’s problems out, again everyone must keep working to preserve Colorado River absolutely
for today and also for next generation. It is really significant to save the Colorado River forever as a sustainable resource. The more water you have, the better you can survive.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
US Department of the Interior (2002). Lost, A Desert River and Its Native Fishes: A Historical Perspective of the Lower Colorado River(pp. 2). Denver Colorado :Gordon A. Mueller and Paul C. Marsh.
Baird, J. (2004, December 17). Colorado River states praise water accord; Colorado River users sharing, Not litigating. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah). Retrieved
June 13, 2005, from http://www.lexis-nexis.com.
---, (2004, December 19). Colorado Compact: Ageless or dried up? ; Water storage revisited: As Western officials tout the system for weathering the drought, critics say increasing demand makes it untenable; Drought has water system under scrutiny;. The Salt Lake Tribune (Utah). Retrieved June 8, 2005,
from http://www.lexis-nexis.com.
Brean, H. (2004, December 20). Unanimous vote OKs water pact. The Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved May 26, 2005, from http://www.lexis-nexis.com.
Lee, M. (2005, March 29). REVIVING A RIVER; A $ 626 million, 50-year conservation plan for the Colorado River tries to balance needs of native habitats with people's demand for water. The San Diego Union - Tribune. Retrieved June 9, 2005, from http://www.lexis-nexis.com.