SC225 - Environmental Science:
Ecosystems, Resources and Carbon
Footprints
Unit 2 Seminar
Water Wars
Dr. Natasha D. Henry-White
nhenry@kaplan.edu
AIM: drnhenry
Agenda
 Housekeeping
 Unit 1 Questions
 Unit 2 Assignments and Questions
 Water Wars!
 Case study 1 – Lake Lanier
 Case study 2 – The War of the Well
 Water Diversion
 Question and Answers
Water Wars – Lake Lanier
 Stakeholders: Georgia,
Florida, Alabama
 Georgia – Drinking water for
2.8 million citizens
 Florida – Support marine life
 Alabama – support cooling
operations of the Farley
Nuclear Powerplant
Water Wars – The War of the Well
 Somalia has been experiencing
severe drought since 1995.
 Somalia lacks a government.
 Warlords have taken control of
working water wells.
 Somalia has been described as
the “worst humanitarian
disaster in history”.
Water Diversion
 Describe at least 2
environmental impacts of
water diversion.
 Describe at least 2 socioeconomic impacts of
water diversion.
Kaplan River Debate
 Some say that water use should be on a ‘first come, first served basis’ – meaning that
upstream users will be able to take advantage of the resource before their
downstream neighbors. Imagine that you live adjacent to the mighty Kaplan River that
has an average flow rate of 4,000 cu ft/sec. Both of these small communities have lived
in harmony with nature and each other for many generations. In the past, each
community only needed 750 cu ft/sec to survive, which still allowed for a thriving fish
population and natural scenic environment. The River is used for bathing, and fishing
and is also used for recreation (boating, swimming). However, the upstream
community is planning to build a new golf course that will increase their usage to 3,500
cu ft/sec. This new golf course will provide 100’s of new jobs and bring in new tourism
dollars that could benefit both up- and downstream communities. However, it will
leave a water deficit for the downstream community and fish populations. Your
instructor will divide the class into two groups; an upstream (last name A-M) or
downstream (last name N-Z) community. Based on the location of your community,
debate the following with your ‘neighbor’:
Debate Teams
Upstream Community





Joshua - Q1 and Q2
Heather – Q3
John – Q4
Andrew – Q5
Volunteer – Q6
Downstream Community





Philip - Q1 and Q2
Jennifer – Q3
Tiffany- Q4
Chris – Q5
Justin – Q6
Debate Questions
1.
Should the upstream community be permitted to build the golf course and take as much water as they
need? Why or why not?
2.
Are the downstream townspeople’s’ rights being violated? Why or why not?
3.
Is there a point where taking more than ‘their share’ would be acceptable? What would that threshold be?
Think about things like job creation, economy, etc.
4.
Is there a more equitable solution where upstream and downstream users will be in more of a ‘win-win’
situation? If yes, describe your idea(s). If no, why not?
5.
What type of negative impacts (environmental, social, economic, etc.) do you foresee as a result of the
upstream community taking so much water from the Kaplan River? Are there any positive benefits? What
are they?
6.
Do the fish and/or the general natural environment have any ‘rights’ in this situation? Take a position
either for or against the fish and environment. Try to convince your classmates why this action should or
should not be allowed.
Questions?