Learning Objectives

• To understand how the supply of water is a Geopolitical issue, by studying the Colorado River

• To understand who are the winners and losers of these treaties

LO: Water Geopolitics & Sharing Water

Definitions

• Hydropolitics– International disputes over how water is used.

• Water Diplomacy – This is when new treaties are needed to negotiate the

use of shared water resources. International law doesn’t make it clear as to whose water it whose. Some upstream countries claim ‘territorial sovereignty’ (its our water and we will decide how to use it). Downstream countries claim ‘territorial integrity’ (its our right to receive the same as we have in the past).

LO: Water Geopolitics & Sharing Water

Sharing Water—The Helsinki Rules

• The Helsinki Rules is an agreement that international treaties must include concepts such as ‘equitable use or share’ should be applied to the whole drainage basin and not just one country.

• Criteria include;1. Natural factors 2. Downstream impacts3. Social and economic impacts 4. Prior use

LO: Water Geopolitics & Sharing Water

Water Geopolitics & Sharing Water

• Often it is the player with the strongest military, economical or political power that takes the lions share of the water. As a result legislation is vital

• The Colorado River has the ‘Law of the River’ which shares out water between USA and Mexico. There are often disagreements frequently, not least due to droughts or low rainfall.

LO: Water Geopolitics & Sharing Water

History of the Colorado Basin• Colorado Compact 1922, allocated the water rights between the different states• 1920’s ‘law of the River’ divided the river into the Upper basin states, who had

responsibility to supply the lower states• Over time new treaties have been signed and Mexico has also been involved• Now there is a ‘giant plumbing system’, with more than 10 major dams to give

water to over 30 million people• Lots of the treaties were established in the 1920’s, since then population, industry

and climate here have all changed• Watch this video of what has happened along its course

LO: Water Geopolitics & Sharing Water

Why will conflict arise here? (p49)

Hoover Dam

Phoenix – 1.5 million residents

7 states covered :Wyoming / Colorado

New Mexico / ArizonaCalifornia / Nevada

UtahLas Vegas 1.8 million

Mojave Desert

Salt water :Pacific Ocean and gulf of California

Colorado1 of the bread basket states

Glen Canyon Dam

Practice exam question

• Using named examples, assess the extent to which conflict over water supplies is inevitable. (15)

• Jan 2013