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Water in the Western United States

University of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

3,286 recent views

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.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Flexible deadlines

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Beginner Level

Approx. 24 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

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.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 24 hours to complete

English

Subtitles: English

Instructors

Eric Gordon

Former Managing Director, Western Water Assessment

University of Colorado Boulder

1,701 Learners

1 Course

Anne U. Gold

Senior Associate Scientist and Director CIRES Education & Outreach Program

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

4,416 Learners

2 Courses

Offered by

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.

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week

Week 1

4 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 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 37 min), 5 readings

Week

Week 2

3 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!

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 74 min), 4 readings, 2 quizzes

6 videos

History and Development of Water in the West6m

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

Week 3

5 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!

5 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 104 min), 10 readings, 2 quizzes

8 videos

Climate in the Western US and Water Resources14m

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

Week 4

5 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 hours to complete

5 videos (Total 58 min), 7 readings, 2 quizzes

5 videos

Geographic and Physical Overview of the Colorado River Basin6m

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

Reviews

4.8

7 reviews

5 stars
78.57%
4 stars
21.42%

TOP REVIEWS FROM WATER IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES

by JSJan 12, 2020

This is an excellent course and a good overview of the situation. I would like to see more classes on this kind of topic.

by MSDec 9, 2019

This is the best course I have done so far in Coursera. By far the most interesting and the most useful course.

by CSFeb 16, 2021

Great class. Gives real insights into all the issues related to water in the western United States.

by BFAug 14, 2020

Thank you. Great course. (Modules 1 and 5 worth the price of admission alone. Very good !)

View all reviews

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Water in the Western United States

Water in the Western United States