Colorado River Case Study
Jordana Clark
Word Count 1136
IB SL Geography
Mr. Mattiace
The Colorado River is the main river for the American South west flowing across 1,350 miles of the United States of America and 90 miles of Mexico. The states in which the Colorado crosses are Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. The original name for the Colorado river was the "Red River", in Spanish, as it use to look reddish-brown color.
The headwaters of the Colorado River are located in the Rocky Mountains Park in Colorado. From Colorado the river flows southwestward towards the Gulf of California, located in Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean. The river has alternating speed flow from rapid to calm sections. The variation of the depth of the river from 6 to 9 feet impacts the speed. Normally in the shallower sections the flow is faster than in deeper parts that tend to be calm.
In recent years the Colorado River has made headlines due to pollution. In 2004 Colorado made the list of "America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2004." Demonstrating the dangers, which loom one of Americas most used river. One of the main factors contributing to the endangerment of the river is pollution. There are three ways in which the river is being polluted first via contaminated groundwater, human waste from riverfront boomtowns in California and Arizona contaminating the river below the Hoover Dam. Pollution is seeping into the Colorado River and this affects the health of the river. As a result of the overloading population, which surrounds the river, increases the septic system to seep into ground water and the Colorado River. There are an estimated 25 million Americans who drink this water, in-addition to wildlife and parks along it. Thus, placing those who drink the water in danger. Although, there are some efforts to address the issues such as, monitoring wells in the Lake Havau area. However, the monitoring of wells has illustrated high levels of nitrate up to four times higher than set levels. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can deplete oxygen in an infant's blood causing 'blue baby' syndrome and is believed to cause cancer1. In recent years communities affected by these problems have taken action into their own hands by raising capita on their own to upgrade wastewater treatment capacities. However, these communities should be receiving help from their local government, as they are the ones who should be insuring the safety of their residents.
Jordana Clark
Word Count 1136
IB SL Geography
Mr. Mattiace
The Colorado River is the main river for the American South west flowing across 1,350 miles of the United States of America and 90 miles of Mexico. The states in which the Colorado crosses are Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California. The original name for the Colorado river was the "Red River", in Spanish, as it use to look reddish-brown color.
The headwaters of the Colorado River are located in the Rocky Mountains Park in Colorado. From Colorado the river flows southwestward towards the Gulf of California, located in Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean. The river has alternating speed flow from rapid to calm sections. The variation of the depth of the river from 6 to 9 feet impacts the speed. Normally in the shallower sections the flow is faster than in deeper parts that tend to be calm.
In recent years the Colorado River has made headlines due to pollution. In 2004 Colorado made the list of "America's Most Endangered Rivers of 2004." Demonstrating the dangers, which loom one of Americas most used river. One of the main factors contributing to the endangerment of the river is pollution. There are three ways in which the river is being polluted first via contaminated groundwater, human waste from riverfront boomtowns in California and Arizona contaminating the river below the Hoover Dam. Pollution is seeping into the Colorado River and this affects the health of the river. As a result of the overloading population, which surrounds the river, increases the septic system to seep into ground water and the Colorado River. There are an estimated 25 million Americans who drink this water, in-addition to wildlife and parks along it. Thus, placing those who drink the water in danger. Although, there are some efforts to address the issues such as, monitoring wells in the Lake Havau area. However, the monitoring of wells has illustrated high levels of nitrate up to four times higher than set levels. High levels of nitrate in drinking water can deplete oxygen in an infant's blood causing 'blue baby' syndrome and is believed to cause cancer1. In recent years communities affected by these problems have taken action into their own hands by raising capita on their own to upgrade wastewater treatment capacities. However, these communities should be receiving help from their local government, as they are the ones who should be insuring the safety of their residents.
