Introduction
Unlike most basins, the headwaters of the Klamath River are in the high desert of the Great Basin in eastern Oregon and travel south through the temperate rainforests of the Pacific Coast Mountain Range in north Central California, before finally draining into the Pacific Ocean in coastal California. The river basin spans a total of 5,700 square miles in an hourglass formation and includes parts of three counties in Oregon and five counties in California (Bureau of Reclamation 2016). The communities living in the “upside down” basin are as diverse as its climatic ranges in their cultures and livelihoods, but are bound by their reliance on the same sources of water.
Prior to settlement by whites, the Klamath River Basin(KRB) was
…show more content…
Historically, the Modoc Tribe lived in the region around Lower Link River and Clear Lake, the Yahooskin lived east of the Yamsay Mountain, and the Klamath Tribe lived along Klamath Lake. Historically, the tribes relied on two fish species, lost river and short nose sucker, as major components of their diet and traded with tribes in the lower basin for other staples, such as salmon. The Return of the cwaam ceremony is still held by the Klamath Tribes to celebrate the return of the fish runs at the end of March (Klamath Tribe …show more content…
A group of historically antagonistic stakeholders attempted to compromise on water allocation, economic development, dam relicensing, and environmental restoration along the Klamath River and its tributaries. The current and historical resource conflicts in the KRB are symptomatic of its long history of environmental exploitation, and the conflicting uses of numerous livelihoods which depend on water for endurance (Doremus and Tarlock 2007). For nearly a century, clashes between fishers, tribes, environmentalists, and farmers have peaked and ebbed with water shortages and wet years. The Euro-American colonial legacy and the settlement and occupation of native territories has resulted in the dispossession of indigenous lands and waters, as well as the strict regulation of indigenous access to waters formerly under their jurisdiction by American government forces (Most 2006). The Klamath Hydroelectric Project(KHP) and its associated dams constructed along the Klamath River in the first half of the 20th century proved catastrophic for the region’s ocean and river fishing economies and indigenous livelihoods(Spain, Interview 9/19/2016). The causal link between dams and decreasing anadromous salmon populations was scientifically unfounded until the late 1990’s. Previously, decreasing salmon stocks were attributed to overfishing by indigenous peoples the
Behind Millerton Lake, lies an existing structure made up of concrete of 319 foot high, this dam is called the Friant Dam. In the San Joaquin Valley below the project's authority of Fresno, Madera, Kern, and Tulare; the water holds and deliver up to a million acres. In 1933 and throughout 1934, the state couldn't find enough contributors to buy revenues bonds to complete the project. Luckily, the River and Harbors Act of 1935 by the United States Congress came through and financed under the United State Army Corps of Engineers.
Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and Politics of Large Dams author Patrick McCully (2001) reports that dams store water for river fluctuations as well as for energy and water demands (p. 11).
Hydrosphere of the Mississippi River A Case Study of * River management * People interfering in the hydrosphere * A flood management scheme River Basin / Catchment area The source of the river is the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains to the north. There are many hundreds of tributaries including the Red River, Missouri river and the river Ohio. The mountains form the river's watershed. From Minneapolis the river flows South-East into Iowa where it flows south as far as Davenport. At Davenport it is joined by more small tributaries.
Policies are often put in place without regards for the effect it will have on other areas, people, or wildlife. Several examples of these unintended consequences are shown in the documentary Salmon: Running the Gauntlet, which explains the effects that human activity, dams, and attempts to repopulate the salmon species have been implemented and failed. With proper evaluation at the onset of a major project, these severe consequences may be avoided.
The positive aspects of ‘Lake’ Powell are few yet noteworthy. Glen Canyon Dam’s hydroelectric power-plant generates one thousand three hundred mega watts of electricity at full operation. That is enough power to supply three hundred fifty thousand homes. Glen Canyon Dam holds twenty seven million acre feet of water, which is equivalent to twice the Colorado River’s annual flow (Living Rivers: What about the hydroelectric loss?). One of the most valuable reasons for the dam to remain active is that “Lake Powell generates four hundred fifty five million dollars per year in tourist revenue, without this cash inflow, gas-and-motel towns . . . would undoubtedly wilt, and surrounding counties and states would lose a substantial tax base” (Farmer 185). These positive aspects are of no surprise considering they are the reason dams are built in the first place.
Rosenau, Marvin Leslie, and Mark Angelo. Conflicts Between Agriculture And Salmon In The Eastern Fraser Valley / Prepared By Marvin L. Rosenau And Mark Angelo. n.p.: Vancouver : Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council, c2005., 2005. UFV Library Catalogue
The California water drought has been declared a crisis by the governor of California. 2013 was the driest year on record, and California could be running out of water. Californians should be water wise, and their use, or no use, of water will have an enormous impact on this drought. They can use the techniques published in a recent Time article called, 5 Ways to Bust California’s Drought, to reduce their water use. Landscape techniques, alternate water sources, and the personal conservation of water can reduce the use of water, and can have a positive change on this water crisis.
...could never fully satisfy the river or the ecosystem again (White, 48). White proves again how although the white people seemed to have control over the salmon and their industry, their successes would cease eventually. The river had the final say in dictating the terms of nature and the environment.
All lives revolve around decisions and instances from ones past. In A River Runs Through It (1992), director Robert Redford uses this idea and applies it to a true story of two brothers from Montana, Norman and Paul Maclean (Craig Sheffer and Brad Pitt, respectively). Based on the autobiographical novel by Norman Maclean himself, River uses Maclean’s metaphysical beliefs about life and nature to present its many themes. Using a longing score, various film devices, and a story line involving themes of youth, loss, and the pitfalls of pride, Robert Redford crafts a film about the beauty of the past.
Grinde, Donald, and Bruce Johansen. Ecocide of Native America: Environmental Destruction of Indian Lands and Peoples. Santa Fe, NM: Clear Light Publishers, 1995. Print.
The controversy over water rights has been a long battle that the Navajo Nation has endured for decades. This controversy which is complicated by numerous issues has only been increasing in recent years. For example the Navajo Hopi Little Colorado Water Settlement that has been in litigation for 33 years. Of particular note Navajo people and their elected officials are struggling to balance expectations with reality including legally mandated coordination with state and federal governments. As a result there has been notable conflict in resources associated with water management. These fundamental issues have been exasperated by a host of concerns: (1) deceased water availability due to drought or water development; (2) long litigation proceedings, (3) growing demands to use “Navajo Water” to meet non-Navajo energy needs in the southwest including coal consumption, uranium exploration-mining and natural gas fracking, and (4) the confusion of Indian Water Rights held separate from the United States water rights systems.
Terrell (2015) states that the three inch delta smelt was decided to be in danger of going extinct a little more than twenty years ago. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has claimed that systems used by farmers to retrieve water from the delta have added to the dropping number of delta smelt. Conservationists think it is necessary for people and farmers to take their water from sources other than the delta in order to preserve the characteristics of the delta (Terrell, 2015). Dr. Peter Moyle of UC Davis stated in an interview,“We have 80 fish species in California, like the delta smelt, that are in trouble” (Cited in Terrell, 2015, p.12). Moyle insists that it is more than just the three inch delta smelt that is in danger, it is at least seventy-nine other species that need protecting as well. As interviewed by Siegler (2015), senior water rights farmer, Rudy Mussi knows the importance of the delta and preserving it, not just so he can use its water on his fields, but also to keep it alive for the future. It has been suggested that water be taken out of the delta and moved to farmers in the lower portion of California who have junior water rights (Siegler, 2015). The delta cannot be overused because it is important that the ratio of saltwater to freshwater stays the same in order to preserve the fish population. In 2014 the excess water that came from the delta, the environment in which the fish live, added up to almost two hundred fifty billion gallons of water or enough for over six and a half million people each year (“Water wars”, 2015) While these people cannot easily access this water source, some farmers are able to use limited amounts of water if they farm on the delta, creating an issue between the junior water rights farmers
Due to the lack of knowledge of indigenous history and culture, non-indigenous peoples unknowingly hold a privileged thinking related to land claims and indigenous livelihood. Similarly, “Canada’s Wild Rice Wars,” presents an ongoing conflict between residents of Pigeon Lake, Canada, and James Whetung. In an attempt to bring back the popularity and tradition of farming wild rice in the indigenous culture, Whetung has been growing the rice on the shorelines of the lake. This poses a problem to the residents as they have trouble using the lake. Owners state how in recent years the amount of rice growing has increased dramatically and now poses a problem when they wish to use the beach or go boating. While I can sympathize with the residents desire
Mother nature has taken the biggest beating of all when it come to pollution. It seems that we just dump our trash wherever we want. We don’t see the true impact these actions have on our environment until it 's too late. Once we realize what 's been done the damage has already been done, it 's irreversible. The Citarum River Basin located in Indonesia has suffered the most. Textile factories located along the coast have dumped toxic waste in the the river causing illnesses and death, we need to clean up the Citarum River. With all this The Citarum River has to return to a place where people feel safe.
With the dynamics of flood risk governance, there is a strong need for the inclusion and recognition of the knowledge that indigenous people possess for the natural environment, including natural hazards. Indigenous inclusion is an important factor in natural hazard planning because of the call for the recognition of indigenous rights. In particular, significant attention has been paid the role that indigenous peoples can play in the governance of the natural management of the country, including the natural hazard risks that face communities.