1. Water Availability/Alterations
Chapter 9 – Module 27
Water Availability/Alterations

2. Water availability per capita
The amount of water available per person varies tremendously around the world. North Africa and the Middle East are the regions with the lowest amounts of available fresh water.

3. Surface Water Watershed
the area of land that is drained by a river system

4. Delta:
a nearly flat plain of alluvial deposit between diverging branches of the mouth of a river, often, though not necessarily, triangular.

5. Altering the Availability of Water
Levees- an enlarged bank built up on each side of the river.
Dikes- similar to a levee but built to prevent ocean waters from flooding adjacent land.

6. We have over 1,400 miles of levees in the Delta!

7. Altering the Availability of Water
Dams- a barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water.
Fish ladders- a set of stairs with water flowing over them that have been added to some dams to help migrating fish such as salmon get upstream.

8. Altering the Availability of Water Los Vaqueros Reservoir
Reservoir- the area where water is stored behind the dam.
Contra Loma Reservoir
Marsh Creek Reservoir
Los Vaqueros Reservoir

9. Altering the Availability of Water
Aqueducts- canals or ditches used to carry water from one location to another.
The Pont du Gard aqueduct was constructed by the Romans in the 1st century AD

10. Altering the Availability of Water
Desalination- removing the salt from salt water to obtain fresh water.