BRAE 349 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 100%
PASS | GRADED A+
**1. Q: Assuming you could count water molecules (H2O) in one small drop of water at a rate of one per
second, roughly how much time would it take?**
**A:** 300 billion centuries
**Rationale:** This staggering number illustrates the sheer scale of molecular-level phenomena,
emphasizing the vast number of molecules present even in a tiny amount of water—a key theme when
discussing water scarcity and resource management.
**2. Q: Assuming the population in California is 39.5 million, how many gallons of water would be
needed to make the food to create 1 quarter-pounder hamburger for lunch for 1 day?**
**A:** 23.7 billion gallons (or about 72,700 Acre-Feet)
**Rationale:** This question highlights the high "water footprint" of food, particularly grain-fed
beef. It connects agricultural production directly to massive water consumption, contrasting it with more
water-efficient foods.
**3. Q: What is the lift and combined horsepower of the Edmonston Pumping Plant that moves water
over the Tehachapi Mountains to Southern California?**
**A:** 1,926 feet and 1,120,000 Horsepower
**Rationale:** This is a key piece of infrastructure for the California State Water Project. The
immense lift (nearly 2,000 feet) and horsepower required demonstrate the enormous energy costs
associated with moving water across the state to serve Southern California’s population and farms.
**4. Q: According to the Randy Record interview, what is the biggest challenge in the future for the
sustainability/reliability for the Metropolitan Water District (MET)?**
**A:** Climate change/variability
**Rationale:** Randy Record (former MET Board Chair) identified climate change as the primary
threat because it causes more extreme droughts, reduces snowpack (the state's natural reservoir), and
increases uncertainties in imported water supplies from the Colorado River and State Water Project.
**5. Q: 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?**
, **A:** 87.5%
**Rationale:** This reflects the seniority of agricultural water rights on the Colorado River.
Agriculture holds the vast majority of the allocation due to the "first in time, first in right" appropriative
rights doctrine established early in the river's development.
**6. Q: Why are nitrates in groundwater an issue?**
**A:** They can cause health problems such as Blue Baby Syndrome (methemoglobinemia) .
**Rationale:** Nitrates, often from agricultural fertilizers, leach into groundwater. This is a critical
public health concern, particularly for infants, as nitrates interfere with the blood's ability to carry
oxygen.
**7. Q: What percent of California groundwater is used as a key source of water in a "normal" water
year?**
**A:** About 30%
**Rationale:** Even in a normal year, groundwater is a vital part of California's water supply
portfolio. In dry years, this percentage increases significantly as surface water becomes scarce.
**8. Q: How much subsidence allegedly occurred between 1925-1977 at the site near Mendota,
California (documented by Dr. Joseph Poland)?**
**A:** 8.9 meters (29.2 feet)
**Rationale:** This iconic example of land subsidence was caused by excessive groundwater
pumping. As water is extracted from confined aquifers, the pore pressure drops, causing the clay layers
to compact and the land surface to sink permanently.
**9. Q: Which of the following represent relatively "new" sources of water in California?**
**A:** Seawater desalination, treated wastewater, and improved efficiency for ag and urban use .
**Rationale:** Traditional sources (rivers, local groundwater) are fully allocated. "New" water
comes from recycling (wastewater to potable), desalination (ocean water), and conservation (saved
water counts as a new supply).
**10. Q: According to the 349 lecture, what are two key irrigation performance measures that could be
targeted for improvement to reduce water demand?**
**A:** Distribution uniformity (DU) and irrigation efficiency .
PASS | GRADED A+
**1. Q: Assuming you could count water molecules (H2O) in one small drop of water at a rate of one per
second, roughly how much time would it take?**
**A:** 300 billion centuries
**Rationale:** This staggering number illustrates the sheer scale of molecular-level phenomena,
emphasizing the vast number of molecules present even in a tiny amount of water—a key theme when
discussing water scarcity and resource management.
**2. Q: Assuming the population in California is 39.5 million, how many gallons of water would be
needed to make the food to create 1 quarter-pounder hamburger for lunch for 1 day?**
**A:** 23.7 billion gallons (or about 72,700 Acre-Feet)
**Rationale:** This question highlights the high "water footprint" of food, particularly grain-fed
beef. It connects agricultural production directly to massive water consumption, contrasting it with more
water-efficient foods.
**3. Q: What is the lift and combined horsepower of the Edmonston Pumping Plant that moves water
over the Tehachapi Mountains to Southern California?**
**A:** 1,926 feet and 1,120,000 Horsepower
**Rationale:** This is a key piece of infrastructure for the California State Water Project. The
immense lift (nearly 2,000 feet) and horsepower required demonstrate the enormous energy costs
associated with moving water across the state to serve Southern California’s population and farms.
**4. Q: According to the Randy Record interview, what is the biggest challenge in the future for the
sustainability/reliability for the Metropolitan Water District (MET)?**
**A:** Climate change/variability
**Rationale:** Randy Record (former MET Board Chair) identified climate change as the primary
threat because it causes more extreme droughts, reduces snowpack (the state's natural reservoir), and
increases uncertainties in imported water supplies from the Colorado River and State Water Project.
**5. Q: 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?**
, **A:** 87.5%
**Rationale:** This reflects the seniority of agricultural water rights on the Colorado River.
Agriculture holds the vast majority of the allocation due to the "first in time, first in right" appropriative
rights doctrine established early in the river's development.
**6. Q: Why are nitrates in groundwater an issue?**
**A:** They can cause health problems such as Blue Baby Syndrome (methemoglobinemia) .
**Rationale:** Nitrates, often from agricultural fertilizers, leach into groundwater. This is a critical
public health concern, particularly for infants, as nitrates interfere with the blood's ability to carry
oxygen.
**7. Q: What percent of California groundwater is used as a key source of water in a "normal" water
year?**
**A:** About 30%
**Rationale:** Even in a normal year, groundwater is a vital part of California's water supply
portfolio. In dry years, this percentage increases significantly as surface water becomes scarce.
**8. Q: How much subsidence allegedly occurred between 1925-1977 at the site near Mendota,
California (documented by Dr. Joseph Poland)?**
**A:** 8.9 meters (29.2 feet)
**Rationale:** This iconic example of land subsidence was caused by excessive groundwater
pumping. As water is extracted from confined aquifers, the pore pressure drops, causing the clay layers
to compact and the land surface to sink permanently.
**9. Q: Which of the following represent relatively "new" sources of water in California?**
**A:** Seawater desalination, treated wastewater, and improved efficiency for ag and urban use .
**Rationale:** Traditional sources (rivers, local groundwater) are fully allocated. "New" water
comes from recycling (wastewater to potable), desalination (ocean water), and conservation (saved
water counts as a new supply).
**10. Q: According to the 349 lecture, what are two key irrigation performance measures that could be
targeted for improvement to reduce water demand?**
**A:** Distribution uniformity (DU) and irrigation efficiency .
