Week 6 Assignment
Axia College Material
Appendix E
Water Resource Challenges
Review Ch. 10 and 11 of your text, then complete the following:
Provide at least three freshwater and three ocean water resource challenges by filling in the following table. Then, respond to the question that follows:
Freshwater Resource Challenge Description
Overdrawing surface water Removing to much freshwater from rivers and streams causes wetlands to dry up and estuaries to become saltier.
Salinization of irrigated soil Salt left by irrigation stays in the soil causing root decay hurting productivity and possibly causing death to crops.
Aquifer depletion Lowers the water table, prolonged lowering can cause the aquifer to dry up eliminating the water source.
Ocean Water Resource Challenge Description
Bycatch Non-target species caught and then discarded in the commercial fishing of certain species.
Ocean dumping and plastic debris When huge quantities of trash containing plastics are released into the ocean.
Coastal development The development of resorts cites, and agriculture along the coast destroys coastal ecosystems.
In 200 to 300 words, respond to the following: Choose one fresh or ocean water resource challenge and describe in detail why the issue has become a problem and how human activities have contributed to the problem.
The overdrawing of surface water is one fresh water resource problem that has become a major problem especially in the Colorado River basin. It is caused by the overuse of fresh water in rivers and streams, which can lead to wetlands drying up and the slainization of irrigated soil. The Colorado River provides water for 25 million people, including the cities of Denver, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque, Phoenix, Los Angeles, and San Diego. It supplies irrigation water for 3.5 million acres of fruit, vegetable, and field crops worth $1.5 billion per year. The population in the upper Colorado region threatens the lower regions by over using the...
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