加州的水資源問題：英語精讀講義

With a population of 39 million people,

加州擁有3900萬人口，

California is by far the most populous state in the US, 文法

是目前美國人口最多的州，

with Greater Los Angeles being the second largest urban region in the country. 文法

大洛杉磯地區是該國第二大都會區。

And the water needs are high,

加州的用水需求很高，

as California has a strong economy

因為它經濟實力雄厚，

with a gross state product of $3.2 trillion USD in 2019.

2019年的州生產毛額達到了3.2兆美元。

To better illustrate this figure, 表達脈絡

為了更清楚地說明這個數字，

it is worth comparing it to entire nations. 文法

值得將其與整個國家進行比較。

California alone would be the fifth largest economy in the world,

僅加州就會是世界第五大經濟體，

just ahead of India.

剛好排在印度之前。

And the economic activities extend across all sectors,

其經濟活動涵蓋所有產業，

industry and finances,

工業與金融、

media and film,

媒體與電影、

the information industry in the Silicon Valley,

矽谷的資訊產業、

trade, as well as agriculture.

貿易以及農業。

All these factors lead to an enormous demand for water. 片語搭配

所有這些因素導致了對水的巨大需求。

In total numbers, California is the largest consumer of water in the United States.

從總數上看，加州是美國最大的用水戶。

In this video, we want to understand

在這支影片中，我們想了解

how this supply is maintained and what some future challenges might be. 文法

這種供水是如何維持的，以及未來可能會有哪些挑戰。

First, let's take a look at California's geography. 片語搭配

首先，讓我們先來看看加州的地理環境。

Note that this is a map with extremely exaggerated topography. 表達脈絡

請注意，這是一張地形極其誇張的地圖。

There are several significant mountain ranges across the state.

該州有幾條重要的山脈。

Northern California has the Klamath Mountains.

北加州有克拉馬斯山脈。

Along the Pacific Ocean,

沿著太平洋，

there are the Northern and Southern Coast Ranges.

有北部和南部海岸山脈。

And to the south,

往南走，

we find the Transverse Ranges

我們會看到橫向山脈

and the Peninsular Ranges.

和半島山脈。

To the east is Sierra Nevada,

東邊是內華達山脈，

the highest mountain range in the state.

它是該州最高的山脈。

This mountainous landscape contrasts with the large flat area 片語搭配

這種多山的地貌與大片平坦區域形成了鮮明對比，

that characterizes the interior of the state,

這片平原是該州內陸的特徵，

the Central Valley.

即中央谷地。

At the same time,

與此同時，

there is the Colorado Desert,

還有科羅拉多沙漠，

as well as the driest desert in North America,

以及北美最乾旱的沙漠——

the Mojave Desert.

莫哈韋沙漠。

So, geographically,

所以，在地理上，

California is a very diverse state.

加州是一個非常多樣化的州。

It is home to both the highest point of the contiguous United States, 片語搭配

美國本土的最高點，

Mount Whitney,

惠特尼峰，

and the lowest point, Death Valley.

和最低點死亡谷，都在加州。

And the many mountain ranges are crucial to water supply, 片語搭配

這些眾多山脈對供水至關重要，

as about 30% of California's water comes from snowpack. 用詞

因為加州約30%的水來自積雪。

For example,

例如，

the snowfall in Sierra Nevada

內華達山脈的降雪

supplies large parts of the Central Valley with water.

為中央谷地的大部分地區供水。

The Central Valley consists of the Sacramento Valley and the San Joaquin Valley, 片語搭配

中央谷地由沙加緬度谷和聖華金谷組成，

named after these two important rivers in the state, 片語動詞

以該州這兩條重要河流命名，

with the Sacramento River being the larger source of fresh water,

其中沙加緬度河是更大的淡水來源，

as it receives approximately two-thirds of Northern California's precipitation.

因為它接收了北加州約三分之二的降水。

These rivers eventually join

這些河流最終匯合，

and flow through the Carquinez Strait 文法

流經卡基尼斯海峽，

into the Bay of San Pablo and San Francisco.

進入聖巴勃羅灣和舊金山灣。

The river's delta is an important source of fresh water withdrawal 用詞

河流三角洲是淡水提取的重要來源，

in the state.

在該州範圍內。

The Central Valley Project uses a series of dams and artificial canals

中央谷地計畫使用一系列水壩和人工運河

to divert both rivers to supply the entire Central Valley.

將兩條河流改道，以供應整個中央谷地。

These canals are essentially artificial rivers that help distribute the water.

這些運河本質上是幫助配水的人工河。

This allows better water management,

這能實現更好的水資源管理、

prevention of floods and droughts,

預防旱澇災害，

and renewable power generation.

以及再生能源發電。

It even enables a more effective use of land,

它甚至能更有效地利用土地，

as dams allow large cities to grow close to river valleys

因為水壩允許大城市在河谷附近發展，

without the risk of flood during spring.

而不會在春季面臨洪水風險。

And thanks to the canals that distribute fresh water 片語搭配

多虧了這些運河輸送淡水

for agricultural irrigation in the valley,

用於谷地的農業灌溉，

the dry environment of the San Joaquin Valley,

聖華金谷原本乾燥的環境，

located a little further south,

位於稍偏南的地方，

has been transformed into arable land. 片語搭配

已經被轉變成了可耕地。

But water isn't just distributed within the Central Valley.

但水資源不僅在中央谷地內分配。

After all,

畢竟，

the supply in the Los Angeles area and San Diego

洛杉磯地區和聖地牙哥的供水

is a particularly big challenge.

是一個特別大的挑戰。

And nowadays,

如今，

it's only possible thanks to enormous efforts.

只有依靠巨大的努力才有可能實現供水。

When it comes to supplying LA with surface water, 表達脈絡

在向洛杉磯供應地表水方面，

three projects in particular stand out. 片語動詞

特別突出的有三個計畫。

The Los Angeles Aqueduct consists of two separate canals

洛杉磯渡槽由兩條獨立的運河組成，

that tap water from the Owens River and its tributaries 用詞

它們從歐文斯河及其支流中取水，

in the Owens Valley and then transports it to Los Angeles.

位於歐文斯谷，然後將其輸送到洛杉磯。

But diverting this water caused environmental damage.

但是轉移這些水造成了環境破壞。

The Owens Lake was deprived of its tributaries, 片語搭配

歐文斯湖被切斷了支流，

which led to the lake drying up. 講解

導致湖水乾涸。

And at times, 片語搭配

有時候，

increased withdrawal and additional canals

增加的取水量和額外的運河

also threatened water levels at Mono Lake,

也威脅到了莫諾湖的水位，

an important spot for bird migration.

那是鳥類遷徙的重要地點。

Another large source of water is the Colorado River.

另一個大水源是科羅拉多河。

Water is transported to cities in Southern California

水被輸送到南加州的城市

using a series of partly above-ground and partly underground canals. 文法

透過一系列部分在地上、部分在底下的運河。

In certain parts,

在某些地方，

the water has to be pumped over higher mountain passages 文法

必須將水泵過較高的山口，

using pumping stations.

使用泵站。

But the longest such canal project is the California Aqueduct.

但最長的此類運河計畫是加州渡槽。

It transports water from Clifton Court Forebay

它將水從克利夫頓法院前灣

in the San Joaquin River Delta

位於聖華金河三角洲，

all the way to the southern part of the state. 片語搭配

一直輸送到該州的南部。

Along the way,

在沿途，

there are considerable differences in altitude,

存在巨大的海拔差異，

and the water has to be pumped from many places using a lot of energy,

必須消耗大量能源從許多地方抽水，

especially over the Tehachapi Mountains that must be crossed on this route.

特別是這條路線上必須跨越的特哈查皮山脈。

At the Edmonston Pumping Plant,

在埃德蒙斯頓泵站，

the water is raised an entire 587 m or 1,926 ft.

水被提升了整整587公尺（1926英尺）。

At other places,

在其他地方，

the water drops abruptly.

水位急劇下降。

Here,

在這裡，

hydropower stations are used to recapture as much energy as possible. 文法

水力發電站被用來回收盡可能多的能源。

But it becomes clear that enormous efforts and costs are necessary 表達脈絡

但很明顯，需要付出巨大的努力和成本

to provide for the densely populated cities in Southern California. 片語動詞

才能為南加州人口密集的城市提供補給。

So, it can be said, 表達脈絡

因此可以這樣說，

water from the Sacramento and San Joaquin River

沙加緬度河和聖華金河的水

is essential to the state's water supply. 片語搭配

對該州的供水至關重要。

And their potential for providing water across the state

而它們為全州供水的潛力

is increased by enormous infrastructure,

透過龐大的基礎設施得到了提升，

for example,

例如，

in the Central Valley Project, for enabling agriculture,

在中央谷地計畫中，用於支持農業，

or in the California State Water Project,

或者在加州國家水利工程中，

for the drinking water supply in Southern California.

為南加州提供飲用水。

Water for this region is taken from the river delta

該地區的水取自河流三角洲，

between the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin,

在沙加緬度河和聖華金河之間，

which is also used for the supply in San Francisco and the Silicon Valley.

這也被用於舊金山和矽谷的供水。

In total,

總共，

this river delta supplies around 25 million people,

這個河流三角洲供應大約2500萬人，

two-thirds of California's population,

占加州三分之二的人口，

with drinking water.

供他們飲用水。

Of this,

其中，

67% is exported for use in the Central Valley Project,

67%被引流用於中央谷地計畫，

and 26% goes to the State Water Project.

26%流向國家水利工程。

However,

然而，

it is important that the withdrawal is strictly monitored.

必須對取水量進行嚴格監控，這一點很重要。

If not enough water flows through the delta into the bay,

如果沒有足夠的水流過三角洲進入海灣，

salty water from the Pacific Ocean threatens to intrude the delta

來自太平洋的鹹水可能會侵入三角洲，

and reduce water quality.

並降低水質。

Even in normal years,

即使在正常的年份，

the water supply in the state is already strained,

該州的供水也已經很緊張了，

and during droughts, the situation gets extremely difficult.

而在乾旱期間，情況會變得極其困難。

Another important source of water is groundwater,

另一個重要的水源是地下水，

which usually accounts for about 30% of the supply in a normal year. 片語動詞

在正常年份通常占供水量的30%左右。

But in years of intense drought,

但在嚴重乾旱的年份，

this percentage can rise up to 60% or more,

這一比例可能上升到60%或更多，

a level of depletion that is not considered sustainable. 用詞

這種消耗程度被認為是不可持續的。

Due to climate change,

由於氣候變遷，

more extreme weather events are to be expected, 文法

預計會出現更多極端天氣事件，

such as more frequent droughts,

例如更頻繁的乾旱，

as well as extreme precipitation events,

以及極端降水事件，

which in turn can lead to floods. 表達脈絡

這反過來又可能導致洪水。

The 2012 to 2016 drought is considered one of the most extreme ones in California's history 文法

2012年至2016年的乾旱被認為是加州歷史上最極端的乾旱之一，

and has brought many farms into crisis. 片語搭配

並使許多農場陷入危機。

Water supply in modern California is only possible

現代加州的供水之所以能夠實現，

due to enormous efforts and large achievements.

全靠巨大的努力和非凡的成就。

While there have been many successes, 表達脈絡

儘管取得了許多成功，

these projects also cause damage

這些計畫也造成了破壞，

to complex ecosystems and habitats.

影響了複雜的生態系統和棲息地。

And they create water conflicts between communities,

它們還在社區之間引發了水資源衝突，

as well as between cities and farmers.

以及城市居民和農民之間的衝突。

In addition,

此外，

many Native American tribal lands have been flooded 文化背景

許多美國原住民部落的土地在過去

in the past in favor of dam projects. 片語搭配

為了水壩計畫而被淹沒。

Many measures are being taken in order to use the limited amount of precipitation 講解

為了利用有限的降水量，許多措施正在實施中

in the state as efficiently as possible. 文法

以盡可能高效地在該州進行管理。

This includes dams,

這包括水壩、

canals,

運河，

and increased use of seawater desalination

以及增加海水淡化的使用，

on one hand, 表達脈絡

在一方面，

and measures to reduce water consumption on the other,

另一方面則是採取措施減少用水量，

such as water meters in every home,

比如每戶安裝水表、

restrictions on private withdrawal,

限制私人取水、

water recycling,

水資源回收，

and modern irrigation methods.

以及現代灌溉方法。

However,

然而，

further improvements in all of these areas will be necessary

在所有這些領域都需要進一步的改善，

to achieve a sustainable water supply in the state. 片語搭配

以實現該州永續的供水。

Thank you so much for watching.

非常感謝您的觀看。

If you want to support more videos like this,

如果您想支持更多類似的影片，

make sure to subscribe.

請務必訂閱。

Also,

另外，

if you want to see more maps and updates on future videos,

如果您想看更多地圖和未來影片的更新，

the links to my social media accounts are in the video description.

我的社群媒體帳號連結在影片簡介中。