Essay Describe Two (2) Major Environmental Changes That Have Affected The Sacramento River
ESS 50
Homework 3 (20 points)
Homework assignments should be typed. For questions that require you to sketch something, you can turn in the sketched part of the assignment to the TA at the start of class, take a photo of your sketch and embed it into the assignment, or sketch it using software such as Powerpoint, Preview, or the various Adobe products (and likely many, many other programs). All assignments should be turned in online by the assigned due date and time. It is your responsibility to turn in your assignment on time. Please write in complete sentences, check spelling and grammar, and be sure to answer the questions!
(7 pts) 1. Explain why the granite rocks of the Sierra Nevada are visible today and not covered by metamorphic rocks. What major force(s) were involved in exposing the rocks?
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Describe two (2) major environmental changes that have affected the Sacramento River since 1850. Include in your description the ecological or hydrologic effects of these changes on the river system (e.g., impacts on particular species, physical properties of the river, etc.).
- Two major environmental changes that have affected the Sacramento River include hydraulic mining and agricultural development. Hydraulic mining is a form in which uses high pressured jets of water to move sediments or remove rock material. This tripled the sediment load in the Sacramento River for around 100 years which allowed 1.3 billion cubic yards of sediment to enter the river. This diminished the ability of the river to carry water and increased flood frequency. Hydraulic mining also ruined farmland because of this. With agricultural development, it allowed for “tule lands” or reeds along the river to be developed which was 500,000 acres along the river. Agricultural development also supported vast riparian forest which was 800,000 acres along the river. Change of the land to agriculture transferred ownership to private land owners which ended up restricting public
Homework 3 (20 points)
Homework assignments should be typed. For questions that require you to sketch something, you can turn in the sketched part of the assignment to the TA at the start of class, take a photo of your sketch and embed it into the assignment, or sketch it using software such as Powerpoint, Preview, or the various Adobe products (and likely many, many other programs). All assignments should be turned in online by the assigned due date and time. It is your responsibility to turn in your assignment on time. Please write in complete sentences, check spelling and grammar, and be sure to answer the questions!
(7 pts) 1. Explain why the granite rocks of the Sierra Nevada are visible today and not covered by metamorphic rocks. What major force(s) were involved in exposing the rocks?
- …show more content…
Describe two (2) major environmental changes that have affected the Sacramento River since 1850. Include in your description the ecological or hydrologic effects of these changes on the river system (e.g., impacts on particular species, physical properties of the river, etc.).
- Two major environmental changes that have affected the Sacramento River include hydraulic mining and agricultural development. Hydraulic mining is a form in which uses high pressured jets of water to move sediments or remove rock material. This tripled the sediment load in the Sacramento River for around 100 years which allowed 1.3 billion cubic yards of sediment to enter the river. This diminished the ability of the river to carry water and increased flood frequency. Hydraulic mining also ruined farmland because of this. With agricultural development, it allowed for “tule lands” or reeds along the river to be developed which was 500,000 acres along the river. Agricultural development also supported vast riparian forest which was 800,000 acres along the river. Change of the land to agriculture transferred ownership to private land owners which ended up restricting public