Students analyze the economic boom and social transformation of post-World War II America in terms of the diverse environmental regions in North America, their relation to particular forms of economic life, and the origins and prospects of environmental problems in those regions. In order to illustrate some of the concepts, information and discussion material on the Eel River and Potter Valley Project has been provided. Many other local issues would be appropriate examples to use in order to illustrate the concepts from Lesson Four's discussion. Introduction Explain to the students that in order to understand the federalist system of government and demonstrate some of the strengths and weaknesses of the system, one can analyze a specific local issue in-depth. Material has been provided to use water issues in California as an example.
Water is an extremely important resource in the state of California.
The availability of water dictates how big a city can grow, what land can be farmed, where industries locate and the health of many fish and wildlife species. Locally, water availability, flow, regulation and use are all controversial. Explain to the students that they will now consider the Eel river controversy. The Project was begun in 1905 and became operational in 1908. Teachers may want to make a transparency from a road map that shows the Eel River and the counties through which it travels.