Article: Down go the Dams Author: J A N E C .

M A R K S Main Points: Fossil creek attracts fish and other plants that cant live in any other environment In 1916 the dammed fossil creek The diverted water was used to power two hydroelectric plants to support Arizonas economic growth In 2001 the plants only powered 0.1% of the states power supply Plants were shut down two years ago Closing the dam restored most of the flow in the creek There are about 800,000 dams in the world Most were built in the past century Hydroelectric power make up about 20% of the worlds electric supply Dams control ooding, and their reservoirs provide a reliable supply of water for irrigation, drinking and recreation Dams are expected to fall especially the small ones Taking apart the dam brings fish back From the 19th century to the 1997 the amount of salmon went from 100,000 to 389 The released sediment that was trapped behind the dam chokes waterways killing food for the fish Contaminates held back behind the dam can cause a big problem to the water When Fort Edward dam was removed the amount of PCBs increased In fossil creek about 25,000 cubic yards of sediment were trapped

Rivers would flow the contaminate sediment in a decade Simulations are being used to see the flow of sediment in a river

Summary Dams arent good for rivers but sometimes removing them are bad for the rivers too. Removing the dams brings back the fish and plants. The bad things is that the sediment that was trapped behind the dam is too contaminated. When the dam is removed all that sediment flows to the river. Scientist are using time lapse photographs to see the flow of the sediment downstream. My thoughts: I think that they shouldnt destroy the dams but instead take care of it and controlling the amount of sediment accumulating in the dam. Dams can provide cities with electricity and as a reservoir. They also hold back the water to prevent floods. So what? Dams reduce the amount of biodiversity in the water but if you remove one that has been there for a long time it can contaminate the water What If? If we remove the dams will the sediment that is set free affect the fish What does this remind me of? Says who? JANEC.MARKS