Hydropower’s Unintended Consequences
As more emphasis is being brought to renewable energy, hydroelectric power is often seen as a viable and clean alternative energy source. Hydro electric has been a longstanding source of power for this and many other countries. In the 1940s dams were supplying 40% of our nation’s electricity, and now they only generate about 10% (science bulletins). Hydro power can be a clean alternative to fossil fuels; however it should not be considered an environmentally friendly alternative of energy production. Dams built for hydroelectric production have had staggering effects on the ecosystems of which they invade, both aquatic and terrestrial, and have rippling effects linked to ecosystems far outside the site of the dam itself. Dams can have adverse effects on water quality, fish species, migration of aquatic animals, and can create biological isolation by cutting off access of species from one side of the dam to the other.
Dam building took off in the United States after World War Two. This can be seen in the official slogan of the Bureau of Land Reclamation: “Our Rivers: Total Use for Greater Wealth” (science bulletins). Since then, the ambitious dam building is fully noticeable. “At least 68,000 large dams, and up to 2 million small dams, block virtually every American waterway” (science bulletins). The most highly hydroelectrically developed river in the country being the Colorado River (Lang). A river that drains over 259,000 square miles and flows through seven states (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah) as well as one Canadian province, is dammed by over 400 dams (Lang). These dams create endless barrages for aquatic water life in what...
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...worth the environmental toll it takes, and if it is worth the decimation of any particular species.
Bibliography
Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM). Edwards Dam and Kennebec Restoration. Accessed March 29 from: http://www.nrcm.org/issue_edwardsdam.asp
Lang, Bill. Columbia River. Accessed march 28 from: http://www.ccrh.org/river/history.htm
Banks, John. Penobscot River project gets two boosts. Portland Press Herald, Thursday, February 1, 2007. Accessed march 28 from: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/viewpoints/editorials/070201penob.html
Science Bulletins. Kennebec Dam Removal. Accessed march 28 from: http://sciencebulletins.amnh.org/biobulletin/biobulletin/story1206.html
Penobscot River Restoration Trust. Penobscot River Watershed History. Accessed April 1 from: http://www.penobscotriver.org/content/4004/The_River/
Over the years Glen Canyon Dam has been the spark for hundreds of debates, rallies, and protests. These debates have been going on for almost forty years now. The fact is that the dam created a huge lake when it was built, this is what bothers environmentalists. This lake is called Lake Powell and thousands of people depend on its tourists for income. The lake also filled up a canyon called Glen Canyon, some people say it was the most beautiful place on earth. The anti-dam side of the debate has its basis in the fact that Lake Powell is currently covering Glen Canyon. It was very remote so few people got to witness its splendor. This is probably the reason the dam was built in the first place, ignorance.
The Hoover Dam is a modern marvel and a testament to American ingenuity. At over six million six hundred thousand tons and jetting seven hundred sixty feet from the canyon floor, six hundred sixty feet across the bottom and, one thousand two hundred forty four feet across the top, the structure is awe inspiring even to a modern audience. Three quarters of a century since its completion it still stands as a symbol of one of the greatest construction projects of the ages. The need for a dam to block the Colorado River was not a new idea when construction began in 1931, but had been mulled around since the dawn of the century. Flooding due to runoff from the Rocky Mountains had devastated crops, and a need for hydroelectric power increased the need for a dam. In 1922 Black Valley was chosen as the spot for the dam’s construction. No one construction company was large enough to take on the project alone, so a group of companies formed a joint venture in order to bid the job. The Six Companies Inc. made up of Morrison-Knudson, the J.F. Shea Company of Portland, MacDonald & Kahn Ltd, Pacific Bridge Company of Portland, Henry J. Kaiser, Bechtel Company of San Francisco were awarded the winning bid for the dam at forty eight million eight hundred ninety thousand nine hundred fifty five dollars. The construction management team had a Herculean task in building this behemoth and faced many problems in its construction. A few of the major issues posed to the team were diverting the Colorado River, provisioning the men and material to get the job done, and the actual construction of the Hoover Dam. The heights involved with project led to many safety obstacles that had to be overcame.
Simonovic, S., Carson, R., W., 2003. Flooding in the Red River Basin – Lessons from Post Flood Activities. Natural Hazards 28(1), 345-365.
In the beginning of the construction of the Three Gorges Dam, there were several problems. There were several protestors and opinions about the dam before the Three Gorges Dam project was even started.1 China has had history of several dam failures in the mid-1970s that were responsible for thousands of deaths. The three gorges (Xiling, Wu, and Qutang) have scenery that is a tourist attraction.2 The dam was going to be a little over 600 feet tall, 7500 feet wide, and hold over 97 trillion gallons of water. Because of all of the population increase, China started using coal power plants1 and shipping, which causes acid rain over the region making the Yangtze River is one of the most polluted rivers in the world.4 It does not help that the Yangtze River runs right through Chinas industrial heartland. Using the river to transport their goods to other parts or China adds to the pollution.2 Pollution from mines, hospitals, and garbage dumping is another big problem for the river because the pollution is building up around the dam.1 With the Three Gorges Dam will come landslides because of the rising water tables and the large slopes with unstable soil from local farming causing more sediment being added to the river.3 And because the dam lies on a fault line there will also be an escalation of earthquakes. There is a huge decrease in sediment discharge; which caused a 90% sediment load into thousands of other reservoirs. Before the dam was operational, it was retaining water and sediments.4 The water levels were rising faster than anyone expected, therefore, the finish date had to be moved up.1 Scientists even projected that 70% of sediment discharge would be trapped for the first two decades and 44% would be store...
The Colorado River is on a path that will take it to its end. The river is running out of water and cannot keep up with the high demand. New technology and growing industries require more water and more power. Organizations are attempting to solve the problem through public policy but the task may prove too large. Humans have changed the coarse of nature and it is up to us to come together and fight for change.
The Klamath Hydroelectric Project is owned by a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway and consists of six hydroelectric dams and one non-hydroelectric dam along the Link River, a feeder stream to Lake Ewauna, the Klamath River’s headwaters (PacifiCorp Power Company 2017). In the early 19th century, dams were constructed without an evaluation of environmental or social impacts. The dams are currently being considered for removal because they have been found to violate the Endangered Species Act of 1973, which provides protection for the Klamath River stock of coho salmon.(Gosnell and Kelly
Throughout the book titled, The Organic Machine, by Richard White, the author depicts the connection and affiliations that have taken place within the Columbia River’s history. The Columbia River is extremely well known in the Pacific Northwest and often a place visited by natives and travelers because of its great beauty. However, often times what people don’t consider is the history and story behind this great sight. Through this book that is exactly what White is able to do. Understanding the natural history along with the human history are key components along with the rivers role for the White man and the Native Americans history.
A large issue we have that effects multiple different areas of our communities, are tragedy of the commons, which are actions that are rational but lead to irrational outcome. Government needs to take responsilbities to enforce rules for commons so they can diminish tragedy of the commons. Dams are a tragedy of the commons that only recently were come to the realisation of its more negatives effect they have on our world. Dams used to be seen as only positive, for their productful factors such as hydroelectricity and water supply. In this essay, I will argue that dams are an example of a tragedy of the commons proven by the documentary, Damnation, by the directors Travis Rummel and Ben Knight by describing that dams are highly subtractable
Silenced Rivers: The Ecology and Politics of Large Dams author Patrick McCully (2001) reports that dams store water for river fluctuations as well as for energy and water demands (p. 11).
The dam sparked concerns about negative effects from Egyptian engineers and international scientists. Many of the environmental concerns surrounding the Aswan Dam are consistent with the problems that were discussed in Environmental Management lecture and in the book “The Global Casino.” There were worries about erosion, sediment deposition, and heavy flooding if the rivers floo...
We have built dams to prevent floods, store water and create electricity. An example of a damn in Michigan is the Sturgis Dam in Sturgis City. This is an image from the Upper Peninsula Power Company’s website that shows how a dam is used to create energy. These dams are called hydroelectric dams. The dam back up the water and when it is released, its power turns the turbine which then turns a generator to create electricity (“Hydroelectric Power,” (n.d.)). However, humans have also altered the waterways in a negative way through pollution. Because we have so many different uses for water, we end up polluted the water through the toxins that are released. If we do not do something and continue to pollute our waterways, there would be a very negative effect on every life form. Many industries, companies, as well as ordinary citizens in Michigan and all around the world are doing their best to cut down their environmental
There are also a few cons to hydroelectric energy; but they are definitely outranked by the pros. Droughts lessen the capabilities of hydroelectric power. Also, Impoundment plants can prevent fish from moving ups...
The building of the dam has created a problem with the sedimentary flow along the Colorado River, and important aspect for creating and livable habitat for fish, plants, and other wildlife. Since the building of the damn, we have seen four fish species go extinct, and a few more on the brink
1), the Dams Sector includes such projects as reservoirs, spillways, powerhouses, canals or aqueducts, navigation locks and other flood risk mitigation systems such as the levee system. The flooding that followed Hurricane Katrina is perhaps the best example of how the Dams sector can negatively affect transportation. Massive flooding throughout New Orleans, as a result of several levee failures, had a debilitating effect on surface transportation. The inability to move people out of the affected area as well as move relief supplies in not only hampered the response effort, but also slowed the recovery effort. Though the national focus was on the immediate area affected by Katrina, “transportation was seriously disrupted. Key railroad bridges were destroyed, requiring the rerouting of traffic and putting increased strain on other rail segments. Barge shipping was halted…[and] the pipeline network…from the gulf was shutdown” (Grenzeback & Lukmann, n.d., p. 1). While the link between the Dams and Transportation Sector is not always apparent, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrine highlight the potential cascading effect especially in low lying areas of the
Hydroelectricity is a renewable source that can be used for years and cam be expanded in many different ways. It also can produce energy from running water without reducing its quantity and can be utilized with other renewable sources that promote energy. Hydroelectricity contributes to the storing of drinking water by collecting rain water, which can then be used for irrigation; however it can also improve the air you breathe because it doesn’t release any toxins or pollutants. For a century, hydroelectricity has made long term improvements environmentally and can continue to do so for many years to come because of how affordable this technology is. (Lamb)