Impact of dams roumenova yanev_yaramov_10_4

By Violeta Roumenova,By Violeta Roumenova,Daniel Yanev, &Daniel Yanev, &

Emil YaramovEmil Yaramov10/410/4

Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact The turbines slow the water which then

contains very little sediment which can lead to destruction of riverbanks (7.)

Lack of fish ladder blocks natural migration paths of fish-may

Might produce very high amounts of greenhouse gases (4.)

Contribute to earthquakes (3.)

The Turbines Slow the The Turbines Slow the WaterWater Fast water flowing from the river holds

sediments When it goes to the dam the water

becomes very slow which leads to sedimentation (7.)

This increases the erosion down the river which can lead to destruction of river banks

This can be controlled by dredging and protecting the natural vegetation cover (7.)

Lack of Fish Ladder Lack of Fish Ladder BlocksBlocks Lack of fish ladder blocks natural migration

paths of fish May lead to destruction of an entire ecosphere This can be fixed by regulating the downstream

flow and clearing natural vegetation (7.)

http://www.rideforclimate.com/usa/blog/?page_id=61&g2_itemId=1073

High Amounts of High Amounts of Greenhouse GasesGreenhouse Gases

The vegetation flooded by the reservoir rots producing methane as they decay

When methane rises most of it oxidizes to form carbon dioxide (4.)

95% of the methane produced is emitted at spillways, turbines and downstream

Have higher global warming impact than fossil fuel plants (4.)

http://ngadventure.typepad.com/blog/2008/08/the-adventure-6.html

Contribution to Contribution to EarthquakesEarthquakes Two theories The mass of the water alters the stress

points on the bedrock causing it to move (adjust) (3.)

Increases the groundwater pressure causing stress on the bedrock

Causes micro-seismic activity (<4.0 Hoover dam) (3.)

Dam PressureDam Pressure

http://www.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/www/html/508-karangi-dam.asp

BenefitsBenefits Hydro power plants located at the lowest

point of the dam wall Produce electricity without using non-

renewable resources (7.) Low amount of environmental harm

compared to other types of power plants Provide drinking water Store water for dry periods (7.)

Nile River: Aswan High Nile River: Aswan High DamDamLocation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lake_Nasser_location.png

The Aswan High DamThe Aswan High Dam

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Aswan_dam.jpg

Aswan High Dam: Problem Aswan High Dam: Problem and Impactsand Impacts

• Cause of problem: poor drainage => saturation and increase in salinity (5.)

• Impact:– Economic: more than 1⁄ 2 of Egypt's farmland soil

has worsened=>less crops produced (trade also affected)

– Human health: number of individuals affected by the parasitic disease schistosomiasis (associated with stagnant water) has increased

– Ecological: soil of farmlands becomes useless; salinity and poor drainage destroy soil (5.)

Aswan High Dam: Aswan High Dam: Problem SolutionProblem Solution• Possible solutions:

– Installation of wells to lower water table– Replacement of foundation stones with other

materials– Injection of a chemical sealant between the

structures and the soil in order to create a barrier (1.)

• This may be very expensive to accomplish• In addition, the construction of each of the

above may cause harm to the surroundings (1.)

Sacramento Delta: Sacramento Delta: Shasta DamShasta DamLocation:

http://www.sellingredding.com/bloggingredding/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/redding_ca.gif

The Shasta DamThe Shasta Dam

http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lund/dams/Shasta/ShastaDam.html

The Shasta Dam: Major The Shasta Dam: Major ProblemProblem Raising of dam => flooding of nearby

canyons => endangering surroundings (wildlife, forests, etc.) = interference with other ecosystems (even destruction of ecosystems) (2.)

Money costs may also result (6.)

Works CitedWorks Cited1."Aswan High Dam." People and Place. 13 Apr. 2007. 8 Jun. 2010.

<http://www.outreachworld.org/Files/u_texas/aswan_high_dam.pdf>.2.Dawson, Elizabeth . "Shasta Dam." Shasta Dam. 5 Dec. 1994. 8 Jun. 2010.

<http://cee.engr.ucdavis.edu/faculty/lund/dams/Shasta/ShastaDam.html#Photographs>.

3."Do Dams Cause Earth Quakes ? ". Yahoo!Answers. 15 Jun. 2010. <http://in.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080830010806AALXvOL>.

4.McCully, Patrick. "Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Dams FAQ". International Rivers. 06/15/2010 <http://www.internationalrivers.org/node/1398>.

5.Rosenberg, Matt . "Nile River: Aswan High Dam Controls The Nile River." About.com: Geography. 27 Jul. 2009. 8 Jun. 2010. <http://geography.about.com/od/ specificplacesofinterest/a/nile.htm>.

6."Shasta Dam." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia . 29 May. 2010. 15 Jun. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shasta_Dam#Arguments_against>.

7."SwissDams". International Commision on Large Dams. June 15, 2010. <http://www.swissdams.ch/Committee/Dossiers/BandC/Benefits_of_and_Concerns_about_Dams.pdf>.