Water Resources - Western Oregon Universityguralnl/370Water Resources.pdf · Water Resources • Water cycle ... Europe Asia Africa Australia and Oceania Antarctica ... Whirlpool

Water Resources

• Water cycle• Water supply and

distribution• Water use and

demand• Drinking Water• Ecosystems and

dams• Water rights

Water cycle

Water Budget

Water distribution

Groundwater

• Aquifers• Recharge zones• Overdraft

US withdrawals

Water use and demand

• Irrigation • Electricity generation• Agriculture leveled off• Population growth:

increases domestic use

• Diversion of resources

Diversion of resources

• Aral sea: river diversion

• Shrinking sea• California divert water

from Mono lake

Drinking Water

• Pumping ground water

• Canals• Desalination plants

Ecosystem impacts

• Wetlands• Dams• Agriculture

Urban use

• Domestic• Water treatment• Drinking water• Sewage treatment• Industry• Agriculture

Wetlands

Prevention of floods

• Channel rivers• Loss of habitat• May not prevent

floods• Restoration in the

everglades, return to native vegetation

Dams

• Loss of land• Flooding controlled• Water storage• Irrigation/drinking

water• Hydroelectricity• Prevent fish migration

Water rights

• Colorado river• Major river of

southwest• Water distribution• Management

Dams

• Glen Canyon dam in 1963• Reduced higher flows• Experimental release of high flows

Water Rights

International agreements

• Mexico• Desalination of water

Desalination

•Excess salt water•Energy demand