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The Colorado River has, for over one hundred years, been the prime cause of much dispute within the seven states through which it runs. A river which extends for no less than one thousand, four hundred miles through the west of North America. Given the length and two hundred and forty six thousand square meters it covers, there can be no doubt that there has had to be some modifications in the river system in order to cohere to a particular development project. This report critically examines the ways in which the Colorado River basin has been modified in the service of national development projects. With the source of the river lying in the immense Rocky Mountain range and the mouth entering the sea at the Gulf of California, the Colorado’s journey takes it through the seven states of, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and finally California. It is inevitable that conflict will ensue when a river crosses states or territory and so it is that the river has become continually modified in order for political conflict to be suppressed. In nineteen twenty-two the Colorado River Compact was established between seven states in order to create an equal share of the water among the states. ... This allowed twenty five million people to be supplied with water from the Colorado River. ... The Hoover dam is a signpost in the modifications of the river system which have unfolded since. It not only aided the distribution of the river but many coexisting advantages and disadvantages occured at the same time. It is modifications such as the Hoover dam that shall be examined in order to provide a critical report on the Colorado River System. ... How has the Colorado River System been modified in the service of particular national development projects?
A long needed and long awaited river basin management project was finally implemented throughout the course of the river. ... The Colorado river Salinity Act of nineteen fifty six was then introduced, followed by the grand canyon Protection Act of nineteen ninety two. ... The Hoover Dam was purpose built in a, successful, attempt to tame the raging waters of the Colorado River at this particular site. At over seven hundred and twenty six feet it is one of the first and most profound modifications to the river system. ... Behind The Hoover dam, Lake Mead spans one hundred and ten miles up towards the Grand Canyon, thirty-five miles up the Virgin River and approximately eight miles across the valley floor. ...
A further alteration in the river system was again a result of action taken by the national development project; upheld by the USBR. ... The site of the Dam was in the upper basin nearer to the source than the previously built Hoover Dam. ... This snowmelt is the main source of water in the river since much of its route is through very dry, arid and desert land where rainfall is highly unlikely. The Glen Canyon highlights the extreme importance of the hydrological cycle in this particular river system. And so it is important to comprehend whether or not the modifications of this river system are inflicting any threatening changes to the natural hydrological cycle.
Approximate Word count = 2640
Approximate Pages = 10.6
(250 words per page double spaced)
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