Water Conflicts Water supply problems – Aral Sea Water conflicts – Middle East Water geopolitics – Colorado River Water transfers - South-North Water.

2. The risks of water insecurity Water

ConflictsWater supply problems – Aral SeaWater conflicts – Middle EastWater geopolitics – Colorado River Water transfers - South-North Water Transfer Project China

Water geopoliticsHelsinki Rules – ‘equitable use’ and ‘equitable share’ to be applied to whole drainage basins, bases on the following:• Natural factors• Social and economic needs• Downstream impacts• Dependency• Prior use• Efficiency

In reality...this does not happen as countries with the greatest political, economic and even military power get the best deal. Water disputes are known as hydropolitics.

What issues face the Colorado River?

The Colorado River is the lifeline of the American Southwest. Its watershed covers seven US states and Mexico. More than 100% of its water is used for recreation, agriculture and drinking water. the water is heavily recycled and re-used.

Because of the over-use of the water the massive reservoirs, Lake Mead and Lake Powell have declined in the past ten years to below 50% capacity.

Users that lose out on the water are nature and poorer areas. Great wetlands, like the river delta in Mexico, but also the Salton Sea in California have received hardly or no water in the last decades resulting in desertification and resettlement of population

The Colorado RiverWater rights between states were allocated

by the Colorado Compact ‘Law of the River’ in 1922.

Over the next 60 years a series of treaties were agreed between the seven US states with a direct interest in the Colorado.

There are now ten major dams to serve the needs of more than 30 million people.

Upstream countries assert their right of territorial sovereignty.

Downstream countries claim territorial integrity.

How successful has the scheme been for the people, the environment?

Height in 1999 3,692ft

Minimum power pool 3,490ft

Current height 3,615ft

Lake Mead behind Glen Canyon Dam

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The height of water in Lake Mead measured in December

The Colorado river’s stakeholders1. Farmers: Who receive 80% of the water and squander it on

cotton and rice at a twentieth of the price in nearby cities.

2. City dwellers: California and Colorado extracts the most water from the Colorado. California is squeezing farmers in the Imperial valley to supply LA and San Diego. Arizona is extracting it’s full share of water in retaliation.

3. Environmentalists and recreationalists: Want to limit the damage by tourists to the shoreline of Lake Mead.

4. Indigenous groups: Native Americans have claims to water rights (since 1880s), but often end up in long legal battles.

5. Mexican people: 90% of water is extracted before reaching Mexico, Cucupa fishermen have had to move elsewhere.

6. US federal government: want to reduce conflict between states and Mexico as US-Mexico relations could sour.

The Colorado RiverThe measures taken to control the River Colorado in order to prevent floods, generate electricity and provide water for homes and agriculture were an engineering marvel at the time of their construction. Now they are seen as costly, inefficient, unsustainable, divisive and environmentally damaging...

Review the costs and benefits of controlling the Colorado

THE END OF THE RIVER