WATER POLITICS
Spring, 2006
OVERVIEW OF ROOSEVELT DAN ON SALT RIVER CIRCA 1913
The pictures shown above are symbolic
of the effects of our search for, utilization, and misuse of water resources. Roosevelt Dam (top),
on the Salt River near Phoenix, was the first "success" of the Bureau of Reclamation's efforts to irrigate
the west and provide for future economic development. It facilitated the
development of Phoenix, a good portion of which lies directly in the old Salt
River flood plain. In 2004 a young hacker broke into the dam's computer
operating system. Luckily he did not do so, but the hacker could have
opened the flood gate, thus destroying most of the metropolitan area. Lake
Davis, located in Plumas County, California, represents our use of technology to
reverse previous mistakes, often with results even worse. Somehow, Northern Pike
were introduced to the lake, a State Water Project Product. In order to save the
resident trout population, the California Department of Fish and Game authorized
the poisoning of the Lake. The Northern Pike were killed, but so too were every
other fish in the lake and every fish within ten miles up and down stream., or
so it was believed. In the Spring of 1999, a Pike was taken from the lake. Since
then 40 more have been taken. And so the story continues as Cal Fish and Game
and Locals (this time cooperatively) seek to keep the Pike out of the River
System. As of the winter of 2005, no permanent solution to the problem has been found.
The pike population continues to grow, as well as the fear they will escape the
lake and decimate the Sacramento River system and the Bay Delta. These examples were used because they may
be familiar to many of us. In reality, however, water politics in its varied forms is a world-wide phenomena. The
struggle for water, decisions involving allocation and use, has been described by some as the next great world
crisis, having the potential to unleash significant violence and bloodshed. Others are not so pessimistic, arguing
that there is potential for significant cooperation and integration of efforts to utilize the resource, since water
is essential for human life itself.
In this course we will focus on a series of
case studies from California, the United States, and around the world from which
we shall attempt to make generalizations about water politics in its
various forms. We shall consider a number if issues regarding allocation and
utilization of water resources. We shall consider the actions and beliefs of
various governmental and non governmental players within and outside of the
United States. We will look at the meaning various entities attach to water and
examine how different ways of thinking effect political behavior.
| INSTRUCTOR | Bill Daniel |
| OFFICE | 130 Founders Hall |
| HOURS | 9:30 - 10:30 M - F, or by appointment |
| PHONE | 826-3914 |
| wrd1@axe or wrdaniel05@pacbell.net | |
| WEB | http://www.humboldt.edu/~wrd1 |
| TEXTS: | Carle, Introduction to
Water in California Raines-Ward, Water Wars (Wars) Glennon, Water Follies (Glennon) |
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
This course will operate much like a seminar and will be divided into three sections. First, we will consider some general issues and then concentrate on California. The class will be divided into groups of three or for persons. Each group will be assigned a topic pertaining to California water politics and will be expected to provide a 30 - 40 minute presentation on the subject matter to the class. Each person will be expected to produce a five page paper covering their area of analysis, or, should the group so choose, a single 15 to 20 page paper. We will do the same with respect to a set of cases from the U S outside of California, and finally, we will consider some international cases. Thus each person will be expected to produce three five page papers, or a combination of individual or group papers. There will also be a final exam covering readings, lectures, and presentations. While there is some leeway regarding the specifics of each presentation, they should include some historical background, a description of the political participants and their interests, an analysis of the present situation, and what's at stake should future decisions be made.
COURSE SCHEDULE
| 1/17 | Introduction |
| 1/19-1/26 | Players in the U S water arena |
| 1/31-2/9 | Water Politics in California; read Carle |
| 2/14-2/16 | Presentations: The Klamath Trinity Basin & CALFED and the Bay Delta (2/14); California's 4.4 Plan & The Salton Sea (2/16) |
| 2/21 | Presentation; LA, Mono Lake, and the Owens Valley (PAPERS DUE) |
| 2/23-3/9 | Surface and groundwater in the U S; Begin reading Glennon |
| 3/14-3/16 | R & R |
| 3/21-3/28 | Continuing U S Water Politics; Finish Glennon |
| 3/30 | Presentations: The Columbia River Watershed & The Missouri River Watershed |
| 4/4-4/6 | Presentations: Law of the River, The Colorado & The Chatahooche Water War (Georgia, Florida and Alabama) (4/4) & The Great Lakes Plan (4/6) PAPERS DUE 4/6) |
| 4/11-4/25 | World Wide Issues; Read Raines-Ward |
| 4/27 | Presentations: Water for Palestine and Israel & The Tigris and Euphrates |
| 5/2-5/4 | Presentations: Damming China & Damming India (5/2) and Water in the Nile (5/4) (PAPERS DUE 5/4) |
| 5/9 | FINAL EXAM - 10:20 - 12:10 |
USEFUL LINKS
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