Summative Assessment: Revising Phoenix

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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 should watch/read through the following materials. They will give you a historical and current perspective, which should help you determine how you develop your water plan for Phoenix.

(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:

In your document 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. If you are taking this class online, upload your completed document to Canvas (also see Canvas for rubric).