Solving the Colorado River Basins Math Problem - Research Paper Example

Solving the Colorado River Basin’s Math Problem: Adapting to Change Human survival depends significantly on the availability of water in the environment. Communities that live close to water basins consider themselves extremely lucky because they do not struggle to meet their water demands. Colorado River is not an exception. The river is a significant water source to over 35 million people and 4 million acres of land in an area that covers close to 246, 000 square miles (McClerg 1). Colorado River is a large and long river that begins from the Rocky Mountains and ends in the Gulf of California. It lies on the southwest of the US and Northwest of Mexico. The river is 2,334 kilometers long with a river basin area of 637 square kilometers (Briney 1). Seven states of America that include Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming (on the upper division), Arizona, California and Nevada (on the lower division), and two states of the Republic of Mexico derive their source of livelihood from this river. Since it is located in a region with dry climate, the river offers a significant source of water for farming, urban use and production of hydroelectric power (McClerg 1). However, balancing water supply and demand for the dependants of Colorado River proves to be a difficult mathematical equation. Thus, Colorado River Compact, a law that regulates the management of Colorado River amongst the upper and lower basin states, was enacted in 1922 (Gelt 1). Challenges that stem from water inequality amongst communities living along water basins require the indulgence of environmental systems engineering (ESE). ESE is essential in addressing problems related to environmental systems (Ateai et al. 874). The water system challenge facing communities along Colorado River is an example of such environmental problems. ESE is an interdisciplinary field of engineering that focuses on how complex models represent mathematical, data driven, and biotic structures combined with physical, biological and ecological processes in waterways. Although its history is short, ESE has been employed in various environmental systems concerned with devising, implementing and managing solutions to protect and restore the environment, all within the framework of sustainable development (Ateai et al. 874). Thus, ESE links systems engineering and environmental engineering in devising and implementing solutions that manage the interrelated elements of the environment, industry and society (Ateai et al. 875). History of Colorado River Development The National Research council of the US agues that the history of Colorado River Water Policy has been determined by the politics of balancing conflicting beneficial values (10). The history of the river tends to be characterized by expanding multiple rather than single values (11). The Colorado water management policy endeavors to reduce risks of feasts, famine and constant water shortages. According to the National Research Council, the risks of long and short term shortages of water remain a continuing preoccupation of the river’s federal managers and the basin states (12). Aridity seems to have shaped the political culture of the basin states and the modern urban west. Colorado basin states fear long term droughts like the one that is thought to have driven Anasazi away from the basin (13). This has historically shaped the western water law and politics, and is the ethic of the water community. States struggle to realize unlimited growth in spite of a limited water budget, thus, providing ample safety margins against shortages (13). The Current Colorado River Use The Colorado River Compact (the “law of the river”) assembles the states and federal laws and regulations, court decisions and international treaties developed over time to form a managerial platform of Colorado River. As the main river waters of the West, the law of the river is a monumental water legislature. The overall aim of the compact is to ensure “equitable allocation of scarce water resources among competing interests to ensure present ad future development” (Joe 1). The figure below represents a snapshot of how water is shared amongst the Colorado River basin states. Source: Water Resources and Research Center, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona. 6 April, 2012. Figure 1: Figures showing projections of Colorado River use by each basin state. The current mathematical challenge surrounding Colorado River is the uncertainty of the quantity of water that is reliably available for the enhancement of urban areas and agricultural utilization. Colorado River is estimated to have an average annual flow of sixteen million acre-feet. Its long term annual average flow at Lee Ferry is estimated to be close to fifteen million acre-feet. These figures indicate a significant disparity between high and low flows of the river. In addition, the drought that started in 2000 has generated a lot of uncertainty. Experts warn that the gap is likely to increase because of climate change. Colorado River has a lengthy history of conflict over issues that relate to water supply and demand. Currently, experts are trying to determine the amount of water on the basin and the future demands. Therefore, there is a need to come up with strategies that ensure the system’s sustainability. Presently, four adaptations have so far been implemented. They can be grouped into four categories. The first adaptation involves operational agreements formulated to regulate water storage and allocation. The second adaptation takes care of the Indian water rights settlements. The third adaptation examines environmental or fish recovery plans in the Colorado River basin states. The fourth adaptation is concerned with the new era of innovation and the nascent relationship between the US and the Republic of Mexico. The seven states in the Colorado River basin endeavor to establish agreements that will help meet current water and new demands while protecting water rights. However, it is still challenging to handle “issues concerning supply, demand and population, climate change and the needs of the environment” (Hundley 1). Upper basin and lower basin along the Colorado River have occasionally rubbed shoulders as the demand for water continues to rise. This has also been heightened by the entry of other new beneficiaries like Los Angeles. In 1924, Los Angeles got approval form nearby communities to have a share of Colorado River’s water supply (Hundley 1). The decision angered other states. The troubled states were concerned at how a new state that contributes the least to the runoff would become a beneficiary of the Colorado River water supply and limit their agricultural and industrial activities that substantially rely on the river. The controversy was heightened by continued drought in the upper basin regions. More controversy arose when a law that favored the lower states because they are the first people using the water came into existence. However, in 1922, the Supreme Court brought justice to all by declaring that the rule of priority favored all states regardless of their alignment along the stream. Experts argue that the most disturbing element of the law of the river is the inability to define the percentage of water use per state. Arizona remained furious at the law because its development had been threatened. In addition, the Mexican treaty that gave the republic of Mexico rights to use a portion of the river angered Arizona. In fact, all the other states, except Arizona, had ratified the compact five months after the enactment of the compact (Hundley 1). Arizona faced stiff competition from California prompting the state to re-look at its earlier objections. Arizona’s step to ratify the compact was monumental in shaping the use of Colorado River by all the seven states. Amazingly, not everyone is in agreement with the Colorado River compact. Upper basin and lower basin states have engaged in legal contests since the enactment of the law of the river. Some states are for the opinion that past laws should be undone or reevaluated because they limit their benefits from the Colorado River. Upper basin states in particular rally for the rewriting of the law of the river in accordance with the current estimates of stream flow. The upper basin states argue that this will enable them expand their oil exploration activities and other mineral reserves. Most significantly, these states want to ensure no water is wasted. They also want to rejuvenate aesthetic and recreational benefits that have so far been ignored. On the other hand, other stakeholders are for the opinion that the current standoff can be lessened by finding alternative water supply to argument Colorado River’s supply. Disputes over power generation have also rattled the Colorado River basin states. However, the allocation and supply of water still remains the most controversial issue facing these states (Hundley 1). Colorado has undergone tremendous transformations regardless of the battles over its water in the past and present. The battles over Colorado River show the preciousness of water in the society and call for a need to reevaluate the utilization of natural resources. Natural resources are blessings that Mother Nature gives to the people. Amazingly, some natural resources in different parts of the world have become a curse rather than a blessing. This occurs when some individuals grab and own a natural resource. This leads to unequal share of natural resources in question. What follows are battles that endeavor to bring sanity in the utilization of those natural resources. Colorado River is not an exception. In fact, occupants along Colorado River claim that Colorado River is a gift from Mother Nature. Colorado River offers a valuable commodity needed by people living in its dry land environment. The controversy that rages over the allocation of Colorado River amongst its beneficiaries must be approached with a sober mind. Stakeholders need to realize that all the states that rely on the river are located in dry land regions (Philip Fradkin 23). For that matter, Colorado River is a vital source of water for these communities. The debate on how much water a state controls should not be the case. The debate should concern how each state will comfortably meet its water demand. In addition, stakeholders need to acknowledge historical laws that govern the use utilization Colorado River by the seven states. Thus, proper mechanisms should be put in place to allow for equitable utilization of water from Colorado River (Fradkin 25). Environmental experts should be involved in the debate so that they can offer professional advice on the conservation of the river. Most importantly, all the states that benefit for Colorado River should realize that they have to move together in unity. They need to forge ahead with proper planning and avoid hitting operational triggers. Cooperation and informed decision making will be of immense help in solving the math problem at hand. Eventually, the mathematical challenge facing Colorado River will be solved in an amicable manner. Works Cited Ateai, A., et al. “A Review on Environmental Process Engineering.” International Journal of Environmental Research, 5.4 (2011): 875-890. Web. Briney, Amanda. “Geography of the Colorado River.” H-Water, H-Net Reviews, 20 September 2010: 1-2. Web. Gelt, Joe. Sharing Colorado River Water: History, Public Policy and the Colorado River Compact. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Press, 1997. Print. Hundley, Norris. The West Against Itself: The Colorado River -An Institutional Review. New Mexico: University of New Mexico, 1996. Print. McClerg, Sue. “Soloving the Colorado Rivers Math basin Problem: Adaptoing to Change.” NWRA, 31 January 2012: 1-2. Web. National Resaech Council (U.S). “Colorado River Ecology and Dam Management: Proceedings of a Symposium.” National Research Council Committee to Review the Glen Canyon Environmental Studies. Santa Fe, New Mexico: National Academy Press, 1991: 45-45. Web. Fradkin, Philip. A River No More: The Colorado River and The West. New York: Hill and Wang, 1981. Print. Read More