CASE STUDIES
COLORADO RIVER BASIN: Diversion of water from the Colorado River has led
to water right disputes between California, Arizona, and Mexico. Dams on the
Colorado River trap large quantities of silt (over 10 million metric tons per
year) and reduce nutrient levels in farmlands below the dam. As a result, more
fertilizer is required. Farm irrigation has resulted in high levels of salts in the
alkaline soils becoming incorporated in agricultural runoff. Millions of acres
of once-valuable farmland are now useless due to the salt buildup in soil, a
process known as salinization.
JAMES BAY, CANADA: Diversion of rivers into Hudson Bay to generate
electrical power has resulted in massive flooding. During one flood, up to
10,000 caribou drowned. In addition, mercury has leached out of rocks and
into water, with nearby residents showing signs of mercury poisoning. The
project also created expensive legal battles and many issues with indigenous
people whose land was flooded.