Summative Assessment: Revising Phoenix

Revisionist History

Our activity for Module 8 focuses on evaluation and implementation of strategies to cope with water scarcity. Of course, the optimal portfolio of strategies will differ from region to region, depending on several factors, including (but not restricted to!): climate, geography, availability of surface water and groundwater sources nearby, economics, demand, and the distribution of major water uses. In the assignment (described in more detail below), your objective is to develop a water portfolio for the City of Phoenix, AZ, drawing upon what you have learned about different approaches to mitigate risks of water shortage in this module, as well as what you learned in previous modules about surface water, groundwater, precipitation patterns, and dams.

Assignment: A Water Plan for Phoenix

It is 1915. You are the chief of the water authority of Phoenix, AZ (population 13,000) in the arid American West. You are tasked with developing a plan to secure water supply for the next century, in the context of economic development, population growth, and power generation.(You may, of course, incorporate what you know about how things have unfolded over the past century in the American Southwest in developing your plan – consider it a "second chance" to develop a water resource strategy with the benefit of hindsight!) .

Prior to writing your water plan, you will need to watch the two parts (not all)of a film about the history of water in Los Angeles (Cadillac Desert: Mulhollands Dream, Cadillac Desert: The American Nile).

(blended / in-person classes only)We will devote the class period to discussion and peer critique of your draft plans in groups of 3-4

What you will turn in:

• A one-page document (your references may be on the second page) outlining your overall strategy and path forward that will best address the growing city's needs. It must include an overview statementfollowed bybullet points describing/outlining your strategy for the 6 components listed below (about 3-4 sentences each). These bullet points should elaborate on the key details and the rationale for choosing each strategy (i.e.: how will it help to diversify water sourcing or hedge against shortage; what proportion of the water will be obtained – or conserved - by the strategy; what are the economic considerations; are there key negotiations or legislation that would be required, etc...). You should also state potential issues or problems for each.

Your bullet points must provide a strategy touching on each of the following, but may include additional examples not on this list.

• Water source(s). You may want to do some research on regional aquifer systems, look at maps of nearby surface water, oceans, or other potential water sources.
• Water quality, and how this may play in to your target(s) for water source.
• Risks associated with climate variability.
• Financing of infrastructure, delivery, management, and quality.
• Population and/or economic growth.
• Food production and irrigation, vs. importation.

Submitting Your Work

If you are taking this course with an in-person lab session, bring two copies or your printed document to class with you.