Author: Annie Snider
Publication: October 20, 2014
Link: http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060007568
Summary
In this article the state of the drought in Arizona is emphasized. It talked about the Grapevine Creek that runs between Phoenix and Flagstaff, Arizona. Most of the river is bone dry most of the year, but there is a spring fed stream underground that creates pockets of cool, perennial pools. These wet areas are in the Prescott National Forest's botanical garden making the creek a great area for Arizona Game and Fish Department to repopulate native Gila trout. The Obama administration decided to step in and propose the Clean Water Act that puts all streams and creeks under federal jurisdiction. This was fiercely opposed by farmers while supported by sportsmen. Conservationists argue that streams and creeks like this are needed because they point to meadows up in the mountains, that act like sponges and hold water in from rare rains. the meadows slowly release the water, which is vital for organisms that rely on water for a habitat or to survive. Many streams and creeks like Grapevine have been stuck in court without a ruling of whether or not roads or buildings will be built across or on them.
Relevance
In class, during our first unit we talked about ecology and habitats. This article shows how ecosystems do not function very well if they are missing something. Here the water was missing so the trout started to die out. We had built mini ecosystems that would not survive with out water, so everyone had to put in some amount of water then seal it because if the water was to escape everything would die. In Arizona there is a drought so many habitats are being hurt or destroyed without water and native organisms are being taken out by lack of resources and invasive species. Another danger to habitats that we talked about in class was human endangering habitats. A lot of construction has been stopped because of the destruction of habitats and endangering species.
How can the trout survive underground in the pools?
ReplyDeleteThe pools are not underground, there is a stream underground that comes up and causes a pools were the trout can survive.
DeleteWhat were farmers arguments and how did did they conflict with the views of sportsmen
ReplyDeleteThe farmers did not want the government to protect the rivers and streams because that means they cant use them to water their plants while the sportsmen liked it because they had more fish to catch and a more outdoor activities to partake in.
Delete