managing the colorado river

management of the Colorado

 The Colorado has been used as a source of water for over 2000 years.
 During the last 100 years, it has changes from an uncontrolled river passing through a semi-desert.
 The Colorado water is now controlled by 11 major damns in 7 states and Mexico, produces 120miilion kw of electricity and irrigates 800 000 hectares of farmland.

Characteristics of the river.

 The river rises in the snowfield of the Rockies, where the annual precipitation may be as much as 2540mm of snow during the winter.
 Temperatures throughout the Colorado basin are high during the summer, which means that there is a net loss of water through evaporation.
 Evapotranspiration can be as high as 1830mm per anum.
 The snow meltwater is essential to the maintenance of the flow of the river, which is at its highest in April and May.
 The lower basin had been liable to flood, with disas...