Question

Why has the Colorado River become an environment issue A oil spills have polluted the river and threatened many species B River levels are rising rapidly as a result of climate change C frequent flooding threatens endangered habits in the rocky mountains D irrigation has severaly reduced the flow of water

Answer 1

The Colorado River has become an environmental issue primarily due to D) irrigation has severely reduced the flow of water.

The river is heavily used for agricultural irrigation, which has significantly decreased its water levels, exacerbating issues related to water scarcity, habitat loss, and the overall health of the river ecosystem. Additionally, over-allocation of water among the states that rely on the river, coupled with prolonged drought conditions and climate change impacts, has further stressed the river's resources.

While oil spills and pollution (A) and flooding (C) can also pose environmental threats, the reduction in water flow due to irrigation practices is a critical and ongoing issue for the Colorado River. Rising river levels (B) is not a primary concern since the river is experiencing decreased flow rather than rising levels.