This course combines an overview of the science behind water and climate in the Western United States with a survey of the major legal, political, and cultural issues focused on this precious resource.
Water in the Western United States
Offered By
University of Colorado Boulder
About this Course
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What you will learn
Understand the unique aspects of water supply and demand issues in the western US and how water systems have adapted to them.
Explain historical and scientific issues around water management in the western US.
Recognize major sources of water supplies in the western US and the impact of individual “water footprints."
Describe some of the ways in which scientists study research questions related to water and climate in the western US.
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
14 hours to complete
Course Introduction
Are you ready? In this module, we introduce you to how the course works, describe the unique nature of water issues in the American West, and provide important background that will orient you to the region we are studying and the science of hydrology. Let's get started!
4 videos (Total 37 min), 5 readings
4 videos
Important Things to Know About the Course10m
Geography of the West9m
Review of the Water Cycle (with a focus on the Western US)11m
5 readings
Syllabus10m
Water Footprint Activity20m
[OPTIONAL] Atlas of the New West1h
[OPTIONAL] Beyond the Hundreth Meridian1h
[OPTIONAL] Climatic fluctuations, drought, and flow in the Colorado River Basin10m
Week
23 hours to complete
History, Politics, and Culture of Water Development in the Western US
How did the American West end up with many of the world's largest dams? How does the West's unique legal system for allocating water work? Who gets the right to use water how, and why? We'll cover these topics and more in our module on history, politics, and culture!
6 videos (Total 74 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes
6 videos
Native American Tribes and Water11m
Water Storage and Delivery Infrastructure12m
Prior Appropriation16m
Interstate Water Conflicts and Agreements10m
Environmental Flows and the Endangered Species Act16m
4 readings
[OPTIONAL] Report on the Lands of the Arid Region of the United States10m
[OPTIONAL] Colorado River Basin Ten Tribes Partnership Tribal Water Study20m
[OPTIONAL] The Emerging Tribal Role in the Colorado River Basin15m
[OPTIONAL] Suggestions for further reading10m
2 practice exercises
History, Politics, and Culture Quiz25m
Water Footprint Challenge Part 125m
Week
35 hours to complete
Hydrology, Water Demand, and Climate in the Western US
Is the West drying up? What happens to a watershed when many of the trees in it die? Let's explore the major scientific issues related to water in the American West. Along the way, we'll hear from a number of experts working on some of the latest cutting-edge research in hydrology, ecology, climate, and more!
8 videos (Total 104 min), 10 readings, 2 quizzes
8 videos
Water Quality, Aquatic Habitat, and Drinking Water10m
Groundwater Resources11m
Watershed Impacts13m
River and Flash Flooding13m
Impacts of Climate Change in the Interior West12m
Water Demand for Agriculture13m
Water Demand for Urban Areas14m
10 readings
[OPTIONAL] Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwestern United States10m
[OPTIONAL] Climate Change in Colorado: A Synthesis to Support Water Resources Management and Adaptation10m
[OPTIONAL] Colorado Climate Change Vulnerability Study10m
[OPTIONAL] Water to Supply the Land: Irrigated Agriculture in the Colorado River Basin20m
[OPTIONAL] Municipal Deliveries of Colorado River Basin Water20m
[OPTIONAL] The twenty-first century Colorado River hot drought and implications for the future20m
[OPTIONAL] When is Drought Not a Drought? Drought, Aridification, and the “New Normal”15m
[OPTIONAL] Climate Change and the Colorado River: What We Already Know15m
[OPTIONAL] New House, New Paradigm: A Model for How to Plan, Build, and Live Water-Smart20m
[OPTIONAL] Understanding California’s Groundwater20m
2 practice exercises
Hydrology, Water Demand, and Climate Quiz25m
Water Footprint Challenge Part 220m
Week
45 hours to complete
Case Study: The Colorado River Basin
The Colorado River is a vital source of drinking water for nearly 40 million people and supplies countless farms across a parched landscape. Cutting through nearly 1,500 miles of mountains and deserts, the Colorado's small size belies the fact that it is one of the most intensively managed and litigated rivers in the world. That makes this river perfect for exploring many of the concepts we've covered already in our course.
5 videos (Total 58 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes
5 videos
History of Development of the Colorado River Basin7m
Climate and the Colorado River Basin: Past, Present, and Future14m
The Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study15m
Physical Attributes of the Colorado River and Experimental Flows in the Grand Canyon13m
7 readings
[OPTIONAL] Colorado River Basin Water Supply and Demand Study10m
[OPTIONAL] The Exploration of the Colorado River and Its Canyons10m
[OPTIONAL] Water is For Fighting Over and Other Myths about Water in the West1h
[OPTIONAL] Downriver: Into the Future of Water in the West1h
[OPTIONAL] Colorado River Drought Contingency Plans10m
[OPTIONAL] West wrestles with Colorado River “grand bargain” as changing climate depletes water governed by 1922 compact10m
[OPTIONAL] First-ever mandatory water cutbacks will kick in next year along the Colorado River10m
2 practice exercises
Colorado River Basin Quiz25m
Water Footprint Challenge Part 325m
Instructors
Eric Gordon
Former Managing Director, Western Water AssessmentUniversity of Colorado Boulder
Anne U. Gold
Senior Associate Scientist and Director CIRES Education & Outreach ProgramCooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
About University of Colorado Boulder
CU-Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
More questions? Visit the Learner Help Center.
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