New Mexico and West America - Assignment Example

New Mexico and West America The four stages of development included, early period of reclamation between 1917-1927 where water was allocated to seven US states and Mexico, the treaty signed indicated that the flow would be 16.5 million acre feet per year. Dam building period, from 1928-1963, during this period, the major goal was to create a huge storage reservoir in order to collect water for several years of flow. Water was used for electricity generation, meant for cities and the farms. Construction of canal delivery systems between, 1996-1998, this was the central Arizona and Utah project. As such the major goal was supply water to the cities and the farms. Notably the Colorado River water was diverted to phoenix. The fourth stage involved the analysis of water issues concerning storage. This happened from 1998 to the present day. As such, conservation of water, removal of Glen canyon dam, climatic changes as well as finding a future water hole were brought in the limelight. Colorado River basin project offered a much more diversified approach in balancing the local and imported water resource developments with the increased demand for the side management required to satisfy the current water demand as well as the future demands Response to 2 According to phoenix metro Arizona has had 6.4 million people by 2012 while New Mexico had 2 million people. Conflicts over land in Arizona have been dominated by the Anglo, however, a huge conflicts exist over the US Mexican border. In New Mexico, conflicts with the over the border are not extensive. The population in Arizona was much lower than New Mexico during the Spanish colonization. Politically, Arizona is more conservative than New Mexico. Arizona immigration law passed in Arizona but, it failed in New Mexico. In Arizona, agriculture is on the declining rate while in New Mexico it is on the increasing rate. The Spanish presence in Arizona lower than that in New Mexico due to the fewer number of the natives, implying that only few souls could be converted, thus low amount of money The major difference between Arizona and New Mexico is that majority of the population in New Mexico are the natives while in Arizona has inhabitants from different regions. As such, Arizona has more stringent rules regarding immigration, as opposed to New Mexico Response to 3 The period I between1848-1865 is characterized by the onset of mining. As such, the Yuma and Wickenburg were gold mining towns. Period II between 1866-1878, this period is characterized by the Mormons and the wealth harvesting, Mormon farming towns included, the small Colorado towns of St John’s, snowflake as well as, the Safford, mesa, Tempe and Thatcher. Additionally, crops were cultivated and later on sold to the miners for the Mormon mercantile functions. Notably, phoenix grew as a farming town. Period III between1879-1899 was characterized by transportation and copper, during this period the santé Fe, and the southern pacific railroads were built and linked in the national grid. Towns like Tombstone grew as a silver mining town, and Flagstaff grew as timber town. Period IV between1900-1939 was characterized by the five Cs, copper, cattle, cotton, and climate. Period V also known as the post 1940 was characterized by a shift in the economy where mining and agriculture declined while service and the manufacturing industry increased. Additionally, this was the period for the Urbana Arizona Whose population grew from 500, 000 to about 6.5 million in 2012. This period is also characterized by a massive demographic force where it was viewed as a burial ground for the wealthy and a place for relaxation Response to 4 Essential elements of Navajo culture include, the for sacred mountains which are, the east sierra Blanca depicting faith and thinking, the south Mount Taylor depicts planning, the west Mt Humphrey depicts love and life. Additionally, the ceremonies performed include singing, the blessing away, as well, sand paintings or healing purposes. The Hozho, depicts a state of equilibrium and harmony. Notably, some of the Navajo beliefs include, the belief that life is lived today, and there is no after life, the nature of humans is both evil and good, humans are less powerful as compared to nature, and respect for a person’s integrity, In Navajo it is believed that, there is no religion while in Hopi Nation there is a strong believes in the tradition. As such Hopi Nations were corn farmers clustered in the pueblo settlements while Navajo populations were majorly pastoralists’. Navajo were more adaptable to outside practices while Hopi were accustomed to their own traditions The number of Hopi reservationists was 7000 people occupying 2531 sq miles while that of Navajo was 2500000 people occupying close to 27000sq miles. Response to 5 The traits of the Mormon cultural landscape include, grid of wide streets which are referenced to the temple, then, the roadside irrigation ditches, the brick and stone residence, presence of agricultural fields around the farm, the Mormon fence and the unpainted barns and granaries. The plat for the city of Zion refers to a homesteading system that was originally drawn by Joseph Smith based on the Utopian agrarian ideals. As such the gridded farming cities were designed to be the home for not more than 20,000 people having the church at the center as well as the open agricultural land within the proximity of the community. Both Utah and New Mexico have similarities in the wide streets in the grid, temple at the center, roadside irrigation ditches, open fields outside, availability of barns and granaries in town. They differ on the Mormon Hay Derrick, the Mormon fence. In addition, the inhabitants of New Mexico are the Mexicans while the inhabitants of Utah are Americans. As such, Utah is located in the Rockies and the basin range while New Mexico is located in Serra Madre, chin. Desert. Notably, the changes in Utah were brought about by the Gentile population which led to greater urbanization rural subdivision, water diversions to the cities, as well as declining agriculture. In New Mexico, the changes were brought about by the Spanish population this changes includes tourism, increased agriculture and ground water exploration. Response to 6 Utah is on the basin range of the middle rocky mountains and the Colorado plateau. This region has a population 2.8 million. As such, this region experiences a longest life span, and highest literacy levels. In addition, Utah has the lowest crime rates ranking it at number 47 of the total 49 murder rates. Utah is an Anglo state and close to 80 percent of the inhabitants believes Christianity. As such the total fertility rates stand at 2.7. In terms of economy, Utah has many manufacturing plants, as well as booming tourism. The median house hold income is at $63, 586. Utah is different from other states since it has the best economic Dynamism, an effective government, good insurance services, as well as, excellent medical care. In New Mexico, the total fertility rate is 2.2, which is way below the replacement level Response to 7 The Great Plains encompasses about 18% of the total land in US with about 3% of the population inhabiting it. As such it extends all the way from Mexico to Canada. To the west of the 100th longitude Meridian, the region rainfall that is lower than 20 inches per year. As such, the region is dry nut it has huge rivers and underground aquifers. Additionally, the great plains are productive for agriculture though this can only be practiced to some level. A declining population has also been cited as a key geographical trait of the Great Plains. This region is dry due to the rain shadow effect where huge variations in temperature and high seed winds cause rapid moisture loss. The great plains are dominated by private land, as such the land tenure system led to the settlement of people in small farm lands within the semi arid to the sub humid region. Problems in the Great Plains include aridity, isolation and the lack of opportunities, decline in population, uncertainty on the economics of ranching and farming. Dust bowl was the name given to the great pains which were destroyed by the drought depression in 1930s As such, the absence of the vegetative cover made it easy for the top soli to be picked by heavy winds which later, swirled up into huge dense clouds of dust. The dust clouds brought havoc driving about 60 percent of the population out of the area. The dust bowl was caused by poor farming practices, and long periods of drought. Currently, measures are in place to prevent reoccurrence of the calamity, first, the farm bill conservation programs are have been in a place where, new farming practices are practiced, conservation of the grassland, Response to 8 Yellowstone Park was formed in 1872 thus joining the rank of the world’s first national park. It has about 2.2 million acres of protected land in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. Most of the species in Yellowstone depend on fire for nutrient circulation and spread of seeds. Additionally, this park has a volcanic caldera landscape that comprises of hot pools, geysers, and waterfalls. In addition, that the park has diverse wildlife ranging from Grizzly Bear, Elk, Bald Eagles, Wolfs Bighorn sheep and Moose. Some challenges faced in the Yellowstone Park are the oil and gas exploration, timber harvesting, and the mushrooming hotels and tourist lodges within the park. The need for fire use has attracted public outcry since in 1988 fire spread to the wilderness areas. The greater yellow stone ecosystem has about 20 million acres of land. It this ecosystem, most of the world rare species of wildlife can be found. Greater Yellowstone ecosystem comprises of both Yellowstone and Shoshone. Climatic changes negatively affect the greater Yellowstone ecosystem through the melting of glaciers, and snow packs which are essential ,for water provision in the wildlife downstream. As such, natural gas and oil exploration threatens the pristine regions of GYE as well as the wildlife region. Read More