CE633-ENVIRONMENTAL HYDROLOGY
FALL 2013
FINAL EXAM
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2013, 1900-2100

Name: __________________Red ID ___________________ Grade: ____________

Instructions: Closed book, closed notes. Use engineering paper. Please answer only 10 questions. When you are finished, staple your work in sequence, and return this sheet with your work.

  1. Describe the Salton Sea predicament. In your opinion, what should be done with the Salton Sea?

  2. Is irrigated agriculture sustainable in the long run? How? If you had to design a system for the State of California, how principles would you use?

  3. What are the four sources of salts in irrigation projects? Which one is the most intractable?

  4. Why is sequestering all runoff for irrigation ill advised?

  5. Describe Tulare Lake Basin's predicament. What is the best long-term strategy to achieve salt balance in Tulare Lake Basin?

  6. Describe Chebotarev's concept of the metamorphism of groundwaters. How does it affect us?

  7. What is the only irrigation project in the U.S. that pumps irrigation water both in and out? Why is this necessary?

  8. What geologic and geomorphologic conditions are conducive to the existence of mud volcanoes? How does this knowledge explain the mud volcanoes of the Salton Sea? Are mud volcanoes good or bad for us?

  9. How does lake salinity vary around the world? What are the maximum ranges in salt concentration? What is the lowest in the U.S.? Why is it low? What is the highest in the world? Why is it high?

  10. Why is net recharge in groundwater flow equal to zero? Explain. What is usually a reliable quantitative indicator of regional groundwater depletion?

  11. Why is the city of Las Vegas called as such? What happened during the 20th Century? Where does Las Vegas get its water now?

  12. What is the reason why the Ojos Negros valley is called as such (Black Eyes)? How can we confirm that the name has a physical basis?