The tourists died because: Development challenge 3: Water supply The Western Desert cities have survived only because of the massive water transfers such as the Central Arizona Project (canals taking water from the River Colorado to the Western Desert’s cities). Read the information about the Central Arizona Project and decide if they are: A positive or negative effect Economic or environmental The River Colorado’s giant reservoirs bring Sediment (load) gets trapped behind the dam water to cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix walls, heats up in the sunlight and warms the and Tucson. water around it. This water rises to the top of the dam. The makes the water that leaves the dam colder because water is released from the bottom of the dam. This makes the river ecosystem change and many species have been lost. Before the dam was built, the river used to The River Colorado’s canals bring water to flood and leave sediment on the river banks. farms in places like Coachella. 15% of the This was used by plants and animals. Now, USA’s crops are grown using this water and it the river does not flood so sediment is not supports about 13% of the livestock making left on the river banks. This has changed the $1.3 billion per year. ecosystem and some species like the Kanab snail and Willow Flycatcher (bird) have decreased in number. Read the information below and answer these questions: Why do humans need water security? Give one physical reason why water security might be a problem in the future: Give one political reason why water security might be a problem in the future:
The tourists died because: Development challenge 3: Water supply The Western Desert cities have survived only because of the massive water transfers such as the Central Arizona Project (canals taking water from the River Colorado to the Western Desert’s cities). Read the information about the Central Arizona Project and decide if they are: A positive or negative effect Economic or environmental The River Colorado’s giant reservoirs bring water to cities such as Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson. Sediment (load) gets trapped behind the dam walls, heats up in the sunlight and warms the water around it. This water rises to the top of the dam. The makes the water that leaves the dam colder because water is released from the bottom of the dam. This makes the river ecosystem change and many species have been lost. Before the dam was built, the river used to flood and leave sediment on the river banks. This was used by plants and animals. Now, the river does not flood so sediment is not left on the river banks. This has changed the ecosystem and some species like the Kanab snail and Willow Flycatcher (bird) have decreased in number. The River Colorado’s canals bring water to farms in places like Coachella. 15% of the USA’s crops are grown using this water and it supports about 13% of the livestock making $1.3 billion per year. Read the information below and answer these questions: Why do humans need water security? Give one physical reason why water security might be a problem in the future: Give one political reason why water security might be a problem in the future:
Y10%20Living%20World%20USA%20Western%20Desert%20Region.docx