The Colorado Watershed
by Patrick Carney, Matt Skircak, Tristan Brandt, Mark Vasile
What is a Watershed?
A watershed is an area in which water runs or drains into the same place, known as a basin. An example would be all of the water running down a mountain into a river, and then draining into the soil, thus creating a basin.
Background Information
- The watershed spans about 243,000 square miles, about as large as France
- Provides for 1/4 million jobs and $26 billion in economic output in recreation alone
- The delta alone supports over 300 species of birds
- The 4 million acres irrigated by provides for 15% America's crops
- The watershed also provides much of the hydroelectric output for Western America
Fun Facts About the Colorado Watershed
- 19 states rely on the Colorado Watershed.
- 78% of surface water withdrawn from the Colorado River is used for agriculture. 22% is for industrial use.
- More than 36 Million depend on it under the Colorado River Impact
Problems that the Colorado Watershed is Facing
Drying Out
The overuse of and multi-state reliance on the watershed is leading to a quick depletion of available water.
Air Pollution
The watershed is facing pollution issues from many places. Being in a very populated Western region, the air has become increasingly polluted, which is affecting the water.
Ground Pollution
As transportation and loitering increases, the ground that the water runs on becomes polluted. This pollution then finds it's way to the water, creating several health concerns.
Climate Change
By 2050, the watershed is expected to be depleted by 10%-30%. A lack of snow and warmer temperatures will exhaust the amount of available water.