Problems Caused by Dams and Reservoirs
- Alter rivers flow, which affects downstream ecosystems and the landscape through which the river flows
- Hold back sediments that would naturally replenish downstream ecosystems
- When rivers are deprived of sediment loads they seek to reccapture it by eroding the downstream river bedd and banks debiltating bridges and other riverbank structures.
- Large dams have led to the extinction of many fish and other aquatic species
- Tend to fragment riverine ecosystem
- Isolate populations of species living up and downstream of the dam
- Cut off migrations and other species movements
- isolate rivers from their floodplain
- Fragmentation of river ecosystem=massive reduction in the number of species in the worlds watersheds
- Inhibit migratory fish movements
- Inundate spawning areas, change historic river flow patterns, and raise water temperatures
- Fish passes can be made to facilitate passage but its not heavily researched.
Environmental Impacts of Dams. International Rivers. Retrieved March 7, 2012, from http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/1545
Rivers No More: The Environmental Effects of Large Dams. International Rivers. Retrieved March 7, 2012, from http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/1636
Reservoirs: Global Issues. Homepage- CIWEM. Retrieved March 7, 012 from http://www.ciwem.org/knowledge-networks/panels/water-resources/reservoirs-global-issues-.aspx
Systems, p., & Turbines., t. j. (n.d.). Dams: Impacts on Salmon and Steelhead. Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Retrieved March 7, 3023, from http://www.nwcouncil.org/hisotry/Dam
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