https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42 A look into the environment of the Po River basin. en-us 2018-12-02 02:41:44 UTC 2025-09-29 03:19:59 UTC hello@padlet.com natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310118973 Starting in the east, the Po River expands the lands of Italy flowing westward. Draining into the Adriatic Sea, the river dispels 48,400 cubic feet of water per second (Britannica). The  drainage basin itself spans 27,062 miles through large cities and towns such as Turin, Milan, Piacenza, Cremona and Ferrara. Playing a major role in the nation, the flow the river provides for the stability and foundation of the country. ]]> 2018-12-02 02:50:01 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310118973 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310124402 While the range of climates experienced in Italy vary on location, the Po River is apart of the mild Mediterranean climate. Precipitation levels are between 25 to 40 inches per year on average (https://www.climatestotravel.com/climate/italy). However, the rainfall has decreased around 20% in the last 30 years. The water quality of the river while moderate has been a point of concern for the nation. Measurement based of the entirety of the river estimates around 200 acres per year of sediment that flows within the Po (Britannica). Many stations, too, are located on the river to monitor the quality and the results are often shard and posted monthly. ]]> 2018-12-02 04:35:07 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310124402 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310127604 A majority if the Italy population is located in the northern part of the country. The surrounding basin of the Po is home to 16 million people as it extends over 24% of the Italy territory (World of Wildlife). Due to this large population surrounding this water source it is mostly used for agricultural purposes. Over 90% of the area is used for rice farms, cereals, grasses, and fruit trees (World of Wildlife). Italy is dependent on the fruits, vegetables, and grains grown in the abundant nutrients surrounding the Po. ]]> 2018-12-02 06:01:46 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310127604 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310130354 As mentioned in the previous post, 90% of the basin is used for growth of meaning that a large sum of water is used to supplement that. The produce and grains require 17 billion cubic meters of water every year alone (Edwards). The leading threat to this is the drought the country has been experiencing. With the water levels decreasing over long periods of time, coalitions such as the Po River Basin Management Plan have become established. ]]> 2018-12-02 07:11:11 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310130354 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310133002 While the entirety of the Po River lies within the borders of Italy, the use of the river is often contemplated by different organizations. These organizations are located within different cities along the river. Due to this some may not work with others or even care to help those further down stream. It has been a point of contention in these cities as the quality and quantity of the water begins to diminish.]]> 2018-12-02 08:11:35 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310133002 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310134565 With abundant intervention of the human population, the lands surrounding the area have become extremely urbanized with the loss of marshes becoming more prevalent. Dams, too, also face lower levels which essentially mean that what was made to help water levels has only served to harm the surrounding vegetation in the multitude of farms (McMacken). Also, there ha been an increasing biomass of the lotus, a fast-growing, aggressive exotic plant, which, in addition to hampering the flow of water through river channels, is also suffocating the original native flora (World of Wildlife). While other invasive species are also causing issues, so are introduced species such as stone moroko fish and the wels catfish. ]]> 2018-12-02 08:43:30 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310134565 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310230597 Temperatures have begin to rise in Italy.  In the years 2003 and 2006-2007, the area experienced extreme drought periods while the temperature now has increased by two degrees celsius since 1960 (Rossi). Due to this, water levels have decreased substantially and farmers have begun to have a difficult time growing their crops. Financially, this too causes a rise in prices for certain crops meaning less money flow within Italy making the country stumble economically. Not only that, but the farmers themselves begin to suffer and lose profit in sustaining their jobs]]> 2018-12-02 22:22:40 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310230597 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310247477 Franco Varani plants tomatoes close to the river. Tomatoes are one plant that needs a large sum of water, usually taken from the river, to have successful growth. Varani managed to give water to 13 hectares of tomatoes while the other 48 hectares were not given an adequate amount (Rossi). This of course is only an example of one farmer but because of the loss of tomato production, the prices of the crop will increase. This increase will make it very difficult for people that may be struggling to buy tomatoes at that price.]]> 2018-12-03 00:45:53 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310247477 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310255285 Water is often obtained from the surface water the river provides. There are, of course, sources of water in different groundwater wells too but a majority of water comes from the Po River. Because of the draught, as mentioned in the two previous posts, water is becoming more and more scarce. Although the video may be more focused on Rome and surrounding farms, it is a good representation of what its is like for northern Italy too. In order to not waste your time only watch until around 1:41 to get a good idea of water scarcity in the country.]]> 2018-12-03 01:43:07 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310255285 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257204 The Po River basin plays a major role in all agricultural life for the entirety of the Italy. Producing 35 percent of national agricultural production and roughly 40% of the country’s GDP, revenue of agriculture is important (Rossi). However, due to the drought, prices of produce and such have began to rise and off setting that  can be very difficult. Because of this the country of Italy has lost around two billion euros or 2.3 billion U.S. dollars. Without improvement of the usage of water prices could grow so significant that the people of Italy may not be able to afford what they need.]]> 2018-12-03 01:59:27 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257204 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257295 With the draught causing so much damage and the future it may have for the nation, the Po River Basin Management Plan was created with ten different focuses with number 5 being water scarcity and drought. Within that category solutions are found in a proactive and reactive way. With proactive, they state that it is aimed at the long-term equilibrium between water availability and water use (sustainability of uses). For the reactive part of solutions aimed at drought management, according to the “Drought
Management Plan Report” contents (Puma). ]]> 2018-12-03 01:59:53 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257295 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257320 As mentioned in the Political Challenges post, different cities along the river struggle to come to a consensus with each having a different organization. One way to improve upon that could be to form one organization with representatives from each town using the river and meet monthly at the minimum. This could ensure that each city's voice is being heard while also making sure each participates. Furthermore, it will ensure better quality of water flowing down the river, rather than leaving the worst for last. This is seen as a soft path of a solution ]]> 2018-12-03 02:00:04 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257320 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257350 The next possible solution would be to build landings or steps of concrete in the water to have levels of sediment filtration. The sediment load carried by the Po is considerable, and the extension of the delta is estimated at 200 acres per year (Britannica). With these different level, as pictures below, a relative amount of sediment and be gathered while the following step continues to reduce it more. Once reaching the final step, the water will at least have smaller levels of sediment therefore better water quality. In addition to that, ports by the sea have moved further away due to sediment and this method can serve to reduce that issue also.]]> 2018-12-03 02:00:13 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257350 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257356 A solution that they are currently using is the dispersal of water to farms through the use of dams. Because the agricultural industry is such a main part of the basin, the measured use of the river can help make it a more long running resource for the area. It will also help the overall water levels of the river due to the drought that has swept over Italy. Of course the main downside to this is the loss of produce and the rise of prices for those crops will slowly begin to rise. ]]> 2018-12-03 02:00:19 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257356 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257383 Ready Player One by Ernest Cline follows the main character Wade  in the virtual reality world of OASIS while showing glimpses of a dystopian future. Through the books there are many themes that present themselves.  What I choose to focus on was the environmental change in the Po River and how it effects poverty, society and culture and the connections between this and Ready Player One.]]> 2018-12-03 02:00:30 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257383 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257431 Within the book we are told of the stacks of trailer homes and the having to hold multiple jobs to sustain a family of just two. With the drought leaving less water available for the 90% of agriculture grown in by the Po River, prices will shoot up. With rising prices comes the difficulty of the people to buy what they may need to sustain their life. Just like in the book, many found it hard to obtain food outside major cities which could become a pattern in Italy also.]]> 2018-12-03 02:00:57 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257431 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257531 The word society is defined as the aggregation of people living in a ordered community. The stacks are again a good example of this and the few cities that are scattered around, such as Columbus, Ohio. Wade left his home in the stacks and moved to Columbus in order to sustain his life of using the better internet connection found in the city. Many countries, including Italy, have a population of less than 10% that migrate due to the climate change and the economic standing it places citizens in (Rossi). This has become a common occurrence as water sources across the world face similar situations.]]> 2018-12-03 02:01:39 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257531 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257591 the definition of culture consists of the beliefs, behaviors, objects, and other characteristics common to the members of a particular group or society. Focusing on the behaviors and belief aspect of the word we can find both hard and soft path solutions within the novel and the river basin (McMacken). Wade finds himself wanting to build a spaceship and stock to fly and leave the crumbling Earth and not changing his behavior. His solution is easily seen as the hard path solution while Artemis wants to save the environment and provide food, this soft path calls for a change in belief and behaviors. Shifting the view to the Po, the Po River Basin Management Plan created levels of drought control seen as the soft path solution.]]> 2018-12-03 02:02:03 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257591 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257705 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lFe7hKkNZhq6rzREQRsYWHwkzxEJp7wBqExHKWxshQ8/edit?usp=sharing]]> 2018-12-03 02:02:49 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257705 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257920 The region surrounding the PO are crucial for breeding, resting, and feeding for many different bird species. It serves as the most important heron breeding area in Italy for squacco heron, black-crowned night-heron, and little egret. The Po Basin also contains the only nesting site in Italy of pygmy cormorant. Furthermore, the globally threatened ferruginous duck is also a resident of the basin (pictured below). There are regularly more than 20,000 waterbirds present. Several endemic species of fish are present, and the valleys function as nurseries for many species, including some that are rare and/or threatened.]]> 2018-12-03 02:04:12 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310257920 natalie_mcmacken03 https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310258056 There are many directions solutions can go but their are essentially two main paths. The first being the hard path and the second being the soft path. A hard path solution is one the people create with technology to help the system. This could be a simple as "steps" placed in streams to help turbidity or more complicated such as a dam. Softer path solutions are changing the behavior of the people by doing things such as taking shorter showers or watering a front lawn less. Both are valid paths but can also have draw backs.]]> 2018-12-03 02:05:04 UTC https://padlet.com/natalie_mcmacken03/xt7fjn8ojl42/wish/310258056