Reflection Paper On Watershed Management

Water scarcity is increasing worldwide and dramatically affecting first world nations such as Spain, Australia, and the United States. All nations are now starting to recognize that the world's water is a finite resource, and that resource is being drastically altered in both availability and quality by development, climate change and population growth. In the United States, the Colorado River is experiencing rapid declines in volume. Recent studies and data suggest that the changes in frequency, intensity, and timing of the availability of water will have substantial impact on the way we live our lives in the 21st century and beyond. As Letmathe Brakeck said, “I am confident that, under present

According to the International Water Management Institute environmental research organisation global water stress is increasing, and a third of all people face some sort of water scarcity. Where demand exceeds supply and no effective management operates, there will be conflicts between the various players involved.

The State of Colorado has suffered from a water shortage in recent years; a difficult situation which is easily visible when viewing the quickly shortening length of the Colorado River. Lake Mead, for example, is roughly 130 feet lower than it once was, marked by the stained rock which towers above the current water level. “The river has become a perfect symbol of what happens when we ask too much of a limited resource: it disappears. In fact, the Colorado no longer regularly reaches the sea” (Zielinski, 2010). Legislation was implemented early on to address this issue, though the results were (perhaps not surprisingly) rather unanticipated, regarding

Think about the following statement: “Only communities located downstream in a watershed need to be concerned about how the water resources are managed in the watershed.” In my opinion, I strongly disagree with this statement. This essay will explain why even communities upstream a watershed should be concerned due to acid rain, and the risk of contaminated drinking water.

Growing up in a small fishing town afforded me the opportunity to see water in a far different perspective than most. Our waterways acted as food source and livelihood while providing a venue for recreation and aesthetic enjoyment. Because of this, a deep respect for water and environment gripped me at an early age. My fascination with water continued to flourish as I grew and watched my hometown battle both natural and man-made disasters. I actively participated in coastal recovery efforts after many hurricanes and even the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Truly sobering moments come when one is standing center-stage of a disaster realizing how something as seemingly endless as water becomes so quickly scarce. These firsthand experiences piqued my initial interest in water resources and conservation sparking many questions about spatio-temporal patterns in the realm of ecosystem services. These personal factors were a major influence on my decision to apply for enrollment in the Earth Sciences Department at the

The article “Water Works”, published by Orion Magazine and written by environmental specialist Cynthia Barnett intends to inform the reader anyone can make water an important factor. Overlooking it has become common many people in the United States have adapted to through the changes that have occurred in society over time. At the beginning of her article, she describes an area that does not make water care a priority, whereas in another location they make it very evident water is important. The location she describes is gloomy, grey, and is a populated area that has old water systems that are damaging environmental factors. Barnett continuously emphasizes that people are the ones who can help restore nature. This is at a less cost than

The Meramec Watershed has been threatened by multiple dam projects for the past two hundred years (East-West Gateway Council of Governments, 2007). However, through continued efforts by local land owners and interested parties, this river has never been dammed. In the Meramec’s more recent history, the Meramec Lake project was brought forth in the 1970s and successfully stopped in the early 1980s by grassroots efforts from local activists (East-West Gateway Council of Governments, 2007). In fact, the U.S Army Corps of Engineers were so confident the dam would get official approval, construction for the project began before the debate was over. Today, remnants of the initial construction can be seen in parks such as Meramec State Park and Meramec Spring Park, yielding to the natural ecosystems and geology that dominate the

Hydrologic studies has always been the subdiscipline of environmental science that has most intrigued me; probably because the eco- and geological systems that comprise surface and shallow groundwater systems are so inexorably entwined and very delicate. Both of the virtual labs were interesting, and paint a clear picture of how we affect our hydrosphere and how that, in turn, affects us. Spotsylvania County and the city of Fredericksburg share four water treatment facilities that pull water from the Mott's Run Reservoir, the Ni River, and the Rappahannock River, which is the largest river in the local area, the other two being smaller tributaries that feed into it. The Rappahannock River is a significant body of water, providing the potable water for roughly a quarter-million people. Toward the coast the river sees mostly recreational and some light industrial use, and further upstream it is affected by many small to midsized agricultural operations that take place on the land adjacent to the river.

I entered the environmental field because I recognize the importance of conserving the resources that have sustained my family and the members of my tribe, both culturally and economically, for many generations. As the oldest of five children, I feel that it is my obligation to not only demonstrate the importance of an education, but also teach my younger siblings the tribal traditions of Santa Clara Pueblo. Remaining at UNM for graduate studies has allowed me to focus on local environmental issues that involve different aspects of hydrology, and has also provided me with the ability to address widespread issues pertaining to climate change and water quality.

The goals for the West Saginaw Bay Watershed are based on the past studies conducted in the watershed. The goals are aimed at protecting the water quality and wildlife habitat and address the resource concerns of the watershed. Milestones were identified indicating the steps needed to reach the objective. Implementing most objectives requires a combination of three types of activities:

The objectives are habitat restoration, flood control, water quality, recreation development, and stewardship. The council has recommended to the City of Elk Grove the use of green infrastructure. This would allow for more of a natural drainage system that would preserve floodplains, wetland areas, and protects stream corridors. (Laguna Creek Watershed Council Work

Water, a resource typically taken for granted is becoming a scarce source for the southwestern states surrounding the Colorado River. For the past sixteen years the southwestern states have been affected by drought, wildfire, an increasing population, farming, housing development and increasing temperatures all are affecting our water supply which is decreasing at a frightening rate. These increasing issues have nearly depleted Lake Mead, a large reservoir that supplies water to all the Colorado River Basin states, but due to climate change, this large reservoir is not being replenished. This is an important problem not only to me and to those already affected by low water resources, and it should be important to everyone, considering it will

Specific purpose statement: To persuade my audience to take action in order to conserve one of the most finite and precious resources we have in the U.S.

Water preservation and conservation is a critical element in providing clean water for current and future generations. To accomplish this task effort must be placed on protecting local watersheds and natural forest catchment

Relationship-building: Having good relationships – trust, mutual respect, understanding – are intangibles that develop and evolve over time, based on individual and collective experiences and interactions. For this reason, we have to engage with stakeholders at a much as early as possible.