Posts Tagged ‘Delta’

Delta Dilemmas

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Once built, the Central Valley Project and the California State Water Project had unforeseen effects on the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, particularly on its historic salmon runs. The Delta is the hub of the state’s massive water distribution system, with much of the estuary’s water supply pumped to other locations. View this segment to learn how

  • engineering has forever changed the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta ecosystem.
  • dams and other components of the water projects interrupt the life cycles of salmon and other fish.
  • managing the effects of California’s water projects on ecosystems has cost billions of dollars.

Download the Viewing Guide for pre- and post-viewing discussion questions, activities, and additional resources to use with students.

The Sinking Delta

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Most of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta has been reclaimed for agricultural use, which has led to subsided land. View this segment to learn

  • about the tidal freshwater marshes that used to exist in the Delta.
  • how the construction of levees has altered the Delta.
  • how reclamation of the marshes led to subsidence of the land.
  • why subsided land makes levees prone to break.

Download the Viewing Guide for pre- and post-viewing discussion questions, activities, and additional resources to use with students.

Moving California’s Water Supply

Tuesday, March 9th, 2010

Together, California’s Central Valley Project and State Water Project stand as an engineering marvel that endowed the state with the ability to move water from the north to the arid south, permanently transforming California. View this segment to learn about

  • Robert Bradford Marshall’s network of dams and canals designed to move Northern California water to the Central Valley.
  • the rapid growth of California’s agricultural industry following the construction of the Central Valley Project.
  • California’s two water projects that bring fresh water for drinking from the San Francisco–San Joaquin Delta to 23 million people throughout the state.

Download the Viewing Guide for pre- and post-viewing discussion questions, activities, and additional resources to use with students.