River basin management

Learn about physical characteristics of the Colorado River basin, including climate, rock type, soils, vegetation and river flow.

Water management is needed on the Colorado River due to a variety of human and physical factors, such as unreliable rainfall patterns, high average temperatures and growing urban populations.

There are many factors, both human and physical, which must be taken into account when selecting and developing a site for a dam, such as the geology of the area, valley size, and nearby populations.

There are many positive and negative consequences of water control projects on the Colorado River. They can be split into social, economic, political and environmental consequences.