water use in the desert southwest - cornell university · “water is bound to man, indeed to life,...

Water Use in the Water Use in the Desert SouthwestDesert Southwest

Policy BriefPolicy BriefTeam 7Team 7

Deb Deb PloetzPloetz, Andrew , Andrew RacleRacle, Justin , Justin RaikesRaikes, , ShavonneShavonneSargentSargent, and Julia , and Julia SchlenkerSchlenker

OverviewOverview“Water is bound to man, indeed to life, by a long-lasting familiarity,

by a relationship of multifarious necessity, due to which its uniqueness is hidden beneath the crust of the habit.” -Primo

Levi• History• The Problem

– Water Use– Water Sources– Ecological Problems

• Governance Strategies– Case Study: Owens Valley– Market Based– Community Based

• Sustainable Use?

• HISTORY• The Problem




• Homestead Act of 1862 – Encourage

people to move west

– “Facilitate yeoman ideal and speculation”

• General Water Rights– Use water on

your land so long as you don’t interfere with use downstream

•Desert Land Act of 1877–“First in time, first in right”–Prior appropriation–Water monopolies

• Newlands(Reclamation) Act of 1902– Established the

Bureau of Reclamation

– Provided for project planning, contracting and construction of dams and aqueducts

- Established districts with federal control - Increased water availability allowed for city population growth

Lower Colorado Region

• Owens Valley 1905-1913– Water needed for the growing cities– Solution: 250 mile Aqueduct to Los Angeles

• Hoover Dam 1930– More water for

growing cities• Colorado River Compact

1922– Allocate river water– Meet stakeholder

needs• Boulder Canyon Act

1928– Hoover Dam – Colorado River

Aqueduct provides water to Los Angeles

Early legislation encouraged growth and more water use, rather than tackling the problem of water shortage

• History

• THE PROBLEM– Water Use– Water Sources– Ecological Problems



☼Water Use Rising

http://www.doi.gov/water2025/water2025-report/page5.html

Urban population in Southwest is rapidly increasing

Major Culprits

-Suburbia

-Service Industry

SuburbiaSuburbia

☼Home use☼Lawns☼¾ home

water use in Las Vegas is for lawn upkeep

http://www.http://www.airphotonaairphotona.com/stock/image.asp?.com/stock/image.asp?imageidimageid=95&catnum=10000=95&catnum=10000

Service IndustryService Industry

☼Casinos/Hotels/Resorts

http://www.vegas.com/resorts/bellagio/?f=m1ht&t=mbellagio

http://dhein.no-ip.org/Travel/US_1985/Vegas%20Strip.jpg

☼Golf Courses☼Use 5% of city

water

http://www.airphotona.com/stock/image.asp?imageid=2405&catnum=12000


Water SourcesWater Sources

☼Colorado River is major source☼Provides water

and power to cities

☼Overused☼No longer

reaches the sea

☼Mainly controlled through damming of the river☼Effects the water quality

☼Hoover Dam



Ecological EffectsEcological Effects

• Water Quality– Increased Evaporation

• Wildlife Diversity– Varying Water Conditions– Survival of the Fittest

• History• The Problem


• GOVERNANCE STRATEGIES– Case Study: Owens Valley– Market Based– Community Based


Owens Valley Case StudyOwens Valley Case Study

• LA’s water needs increased– purchased land and water rights to

95% of Owens Valley by 1930• By 1924, Owens Lake

almost completely dry• Dust storms

Relevant History of Owens ValleyRelevant History of Owens Valley

• Land Use:– Ranching, apple orchards, grapes, barley, wheat

• LA’s founding fathers buy up plots of land along the river beginning 1903

• Owens Valley Committee formed in 1983 as GRO to answer local call to arms

• Two aqueducts constructed– bring more than 780 cfs to LA

Health ProblemsHealth Problems

• Dust storms cause some of the worst particulate air pollution in the world for 12-14 days out of the average year

Habitat DestructionHabitat Destruction

• A series of droughts, in combination with river diversions and excessive pumping destroy virtually all wetlands by 1970

• Significant Important Bird Area• Lower Owens

River Project

Owens River Delta

RegulationRegulation

• California’s Environmental Quality Act• EIR statements• Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control

District• EPA

Court InterventionCourt Intervention

• Inyo County files first suit in 1972 based on CEQA, LA answers with two EIRs

• Usage agreements created in 1984, 1991• Objections to agreements based on EIRs• 1997 Memorandum of Understanding• 1999 Memorandum of Agreement

regarding air pollution• Final injunction 2003

MarketMarket--based approachesbased approaches• Aspects of market approaches

– Groundwater and aquifers have inherent common-property characteristics and social values difficult to account for in markets

– Markets require clear, enforceable property rights, minimal externalities, feasible competition

MarketMarket--based initiativesbased initiatives• Tax incentives and

rebates– Denver water

• Agricultural water allocations– Water rights

• Technological advancements– Efficient Water Use

• Aquifers, Irrigation

MarketMarket--Community PartnershipCommunity Partnership

• Public participation in private enterprises– Denver Water depends on public involvement

• Citizens Advisory Council• Availability of current issues and public meetings

CommunityCommunity--Based ApproachesBased Approaches

• Community approaches may be preferable– Nature of water conservation demands

involved and moralistic approach

• Require an educated public– Urbanites must become aware of water

problem– All communities must be working together

(shared resource)

Examples of CommunityExamples of Community--Based Based ApproachesApproaches

• Market-Community Partnerships– Denver Water Company

• Advertisement Campaigns– Led by water companies

like Suburban Water Systems

– Suggested changes both inside and outside the home

• Education of Youth– Institute for Water Ed.– S. Nevada: “H2O The

Source” teaching materials– Water Conservation in

Curricula– New generation must be

water-conscious

• Change of culture– Old Status Quo must go– Entire communities must

change their perception– New Image of the Southwest

Suburb

Source: w

ww

.livingwaterlv.com

Conclusion Conclusion –– Sustainability?Sustainability?

• Urban water use in American Southwest cannot be sustainable

• Still, steps can be taken to reduce water footprint of cities– Command and Control Approach– Market-based Approach– Community-Based Approach

• Though true sustainability cannot be reached, there are indeed positive signs

Questions?Questions?

water use in the desert southwest - cornell university · “water is bound to man, indeed to life,...

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