How Big Were Their Footprints?

The Future

The valley's population will probably continue to grow. More people will need more houses, stores and schools. They will also need more water. Pollution underground will be more and more of a problem. Air quality may get better. Farmland will probably all disappear. Some native plants and animals may be protected, but people will want to build houses in places they shouldn't.

Action

Effect

Cities will have to solve pollution problems. They may need to build expensive water plants to filter the water before it can be used.

There may be more rationing of water. People may switch lawns to other kinds of plants. They will want plants that don't need much water.

The underground water supply may drop lower and lower.

Citrus will be remembered, but will probably disappear. The land will be used for more homes and other buildings.

Native plants may come back as people realize that they can grow with little water.

Old homes and buildings will be torn down. They will be replaced with new buildings.

The new buildings must be earthquake safe. Laws may require that buildings use recycled materials to save natural resources. New homes will have to be more efficienct. They will be easier to cool and heat.

Areas will be set up to give native animals a home. These reserves are meant to save enough land to keep native animals alive.

Some people will fight against setting up reserves. They will argue that the land is only for people.

Native Americans will probably increase in population, since they now have better medical care and education.

Reservation land may increase, as tribes buy land or get it back from the government.

The Bottom Line:

It will take careful planning to survive the next hundred years. Lots of things that happened in the past will cause us trouble. Pollution of our water is probably the biggest problem we will face. If we don't want the valley to be all city, we will need to work hard to make sure some land is set aside as "wild-land".

	Action	Effect
	Cities will have to solve pollution problems. They may need to build expensive water plants to filter the water before it can be used.	There may be more rationing of water. People may switch lawns to other kinds of plants. They will want plants that don't need much water. The underground water supply may drop lower and lower.
	Citrus will be remembered, but will probably disappear. The land will be used for more homes and other buildings.	Native plants may come back as people realize that they can grow with little water.
	Old homes and buildings will be torn down. They will be replaced with new buildings.	The new buildings must be earthquake safe. Laws may require that buildings use recycled materials to save natural resources. New homes will have to be more efficienct. They will be easier to cool and heat.
	Areas will be set up to give native animals a home. These reserves are meant to save enough land to keep native animals alive.	Some people will fight against setting up reserves. They will argue that the land is only for people.
	Native Americans will probably increase in population, since they now have better medical care and education.	Reservation land may increase, as tribes buy land or get it back from the government.