BRAE 349 final Exam Questions Answered Correctly Latest Update 2025 Rated A+
What is the lift and combined horsepower of the Edmonston Pumping Plant that moves water over the
Tehachapi Mountains to Southern California? - Answers 1,926 feet and 1,120,000 Horsepower
Assuming you could...roughly how much time would it take to count the water
molecules (H2O) in one small drop of water at a rate of one per second? - Answers 300 billion centuries
Assuming the population in California is 39.5 million, how many gallons of water would be needed to
make the food to create 1 hamburger (use the quarter-pounder from lecture) for lunch for 1 day?
Assume grain-fed beef versus grass-fed beef. - Answers 23.7 billion gallons (or about 72,700 Acre-Feet)
What prominent position did Cal Poly grad Randy Record hold with respect to
California water? Hint: Google search encouraged - Answers Chairman of the Board - Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California
From the water allocated to California from the Colorado River in a "normal" year, how much of the 4.4
million acre-feet allocation is used by agriculture as senior water rights? - Answers 87.5%
Which of the following represent relatively "new" sources of water in California? - Answers -Seawater
Desalination
-Treated wastewater
-Improved efficiency for ag and urban water use
Why are nitrates in the groundwater an issue? - Answers Nitrates can cause health problems such as
Blue Baby Syndrome
What is one of the greatest issues in California's hydrology? - Answers A majority of the water is in the
northern part of the state, but a majority of
the population is in the southern part of the state.
What percent of California groundwater is used as a key source of water in a normal
water year? - Answers 30%
Which of the following are guiding principles of the 2020 Water Resilience Plan? - Answers a) Strengthen
partnerships with local, federal and tribal governments, water agencies and irrigation districts, and other
stakeholders
b) Integrate investments, policies, and programs across state government
c) Prioritize multi-benefit approaches that meet several needs at once
, d) Utilize natural infrastructure such as forests and floodplains
e) Embrace innovation and new technologies
f) Incorporate successful approaches from other parts of the world
g) Encourage regional approaches among water users sharing watersheds
h) Prioritize urban water use above all other water users
How did California miners in the mid-1800s get the hydraulic mining nozzles to
work? - Answers Hydraulic pressure from upstream water source
How much subsidence allegedly occurred between 1925-1977 at the site near Mendota, California
(documented by Dr. Poland)? - Answers 8.9 meters (29.2 ft)
According to the lecture, NRDC/Pacific Institute posted a chart where ag is wasting
water in California. How much water did they claim that agriculture users are wasting with poor
irrigation practices? - Answers 5.6 - 6.6 mAF
According to the Randy Record interview, what is the biggest challenge in the future
for the sustainability/reliability for MET? - Answers Climate change/variability
Which of the following is NOT a reason why there is pushback from building more water storage in
California? - Answers Urban use
Was hydraulic mining considered a sustainable method to mine gold? - Answers - No, it was very hard
on the environment and has left surface scars that have lasted over 150 years
- No, the practice flushed tons of sediment to downstream water users and disrupted water rights of
other users
From the interview with Randy Record (former MET Chair), how much did the MET water demand
change between 1990 and 2020? - Answers From 2.2 mAF in 1990 to 1.4 mAF in 2020 (even though the
population has gone up)
What is the primary water source for the Central Coast Region, according to the
California Water Resilience Portfolio? - Answers Groundwater
What document can overrule all rights and laws for water? - Answers Public Trust Doctrine
From the interview with Kimberly Brown (Executive with Wonderful Orchards), how much did surface
water cost in the Tulare Lake Basin in a dry year (e.g., 2015)? - Answers $2000/AF
What is the lift and combined horsepower of the Edmonston Pumping Plant that moves water over the
Tehachapi Mountains to Southern California? - Answers 1,926 feet and 1,120,000 Horsepower
Assuming you could...roughly how much time would it take to count the water
molecules (H2O) in one small drop of water at a rate of one per second? - Answers 300 billion centuries
Assuming the population in California is 39.5 million, how many gallons of water would be needed to
make the food to create 1 hamburger (use the quarter-pounder from lecture) for lunch for 1 day?
Assume grain-fed beef versus grass-fed beef. - Answers 23.7 billion gallons (or about 72,700 Acre-Feet)
What prominent position did Cal Poly grad Randy Record hold with respect to
California water? Hint: Google search encouraged - Answers Chairman of the Board - Metropolitan
Water District of Southern California
From the water allocated to California from the Colorado River in a "normal" year, how much of the 4.4
million acre-feet allocation is used by agriculture as senior water rights? - Answers 87.5%
Which of the following represent relatively "new" sources of water in California? - Answers -Seawater
Desalination
-Treated wastewater
-Improved efficiency for ag and urban water use
Why are nitrates in the groundwater an issue? - Answers Nitrates can cause health problems such as
Blue Baby Syndrome
What is one of the greatest issues in California's hydrology? - Answers A majority of the water is in the
northern part of the state, but a majority of
the population is in the southern part of the state.
What percent of California groundwater is used as a key source of water in a normal
water year? - Answers 30%
Which of the following are guiding principles of the 2020 Water Resilience Plan? - Answers a) Strengthen
partnerships with local, federal and tribal governments, water agencies and irrigation districts, and other
stakeholders
b) Integrate investments, policies, and programs across state government
c) Prioritize multi-benefit approaches that meet several needs at once
, d) Utilize natural infrastructure such as forests and floodplains
e) Embrace innovation and new technologies
f) Incorporate successful approaches from other parts of the world
g) Encourage regional approaches among water users sharing watersheds
h) Prioritize urban water use above all other water users
How did California miners in the mid-1800s get the hydraulic mining nozzles to
work? - Answers Hydraulic pressure from upstream water source
How much subsidence allegedly occurred between 1925-1977 at the site near Mendota, California
(documented by Dr. Poland)? - Answers 8.9 meters (29.2 ft)
According to the lecture, NRDC/Pacific Institute posted a chart where ag is wasting
water in California. How much water did they claim that agriculture users are wasting with poor
irrigation practices? - Answers 5.6 - 6.6 mAF
According to the Randy Record interview, what is the biggest challenge in the future
for the sustainability/reliability for MET? - Answers Climate change/variability
Which of the following is NOT a reason why there is pushback from building more water storage in
California? - Answers Urban use
Was hydraulic mining considered a sustainable method to mine gold? - Answers - No, it was very hard
on the environment and has left surface scars that have lasted over 150 years
- No, the practice flushed tons of sediment to downstream water users and disrupted water rights of
other users
From the interview with Randy Record (former MET Chair), how much did the MET water demand
change between 1990 and 2020? - Answers From 2.2 mAF in 1990 to 1.4 mAF in 2020 (even though the
population has gone up)
What is the primary water source for the Central Coast Region, according to the
California Water Resilience Portfolio? - Answers Groundwater
What document can overrule all rights and laws for water? - Answers Public Trust Doctrine
From the interview with Kimberly Brown (Executive with Wonderful Orchards), how much did surface
water cost in the Tulare Lake Basin in a dry year (e.g., 2015)? - Answers $2000/AF
