The Danger of Dams

Nereida Lopez
November 17, 2017
 Many people every year visit the amazing dams all around the world. Worldwide, there
are approximately 800,000 large-scale and small-scale dams. Dams are a great source of
alternative power, specifically hydroelectric power. They are also used to control seasonal floods
and navigation. However, with such a breathtaking and amazing source of power, and the
emphasis on all their benefits, it can be easy to forget that dams are actually harmful to the
ecosystem as well. With all the positives, it can be hard to imagine that there are any negative
affects at all. Dams bring a great amount of alternative energy, but also a great amount of
ecological loss.
Dams have made rivers the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet. Dams are the
cause of drastic changes in water temperature, which hosts mosquito breeding grounds. This
leads to the faster spread of diseases, and change in chemical composition. These habitats lose
more species at a much faster rate than their terrestrial or marine counterparts. Approximately 39
percent of freshwater fish in North America are at risk of being harmed, injured, or destroyed
because of dams.
One hundred years ago, the Elwha River, which flows through Olympic National Park,
use to be a paradise for salmon, specifically the Chinook. During that time, the salmon weighed
about 100 pounds, and could be found swimming throughout the river in a large abundance.
Thomas Aldwell built a dam in 1916, which cut off the salmon from their spawning grounds
upstream. As time progressed, the salmon were seen less and less.
In addition to altering the Chinook migration, the dam also cut off the ability for the river
to carry sediments downstream. Much of these sediments also included essential nutrients for the
ground. As the sediment get accumulated behind the dams, it prevents the dam from being able
to hold as much water. The sediments can block water going to the turbines and ruin the dams
ability to control floods. In addition, a large quantity of the aquatic life got trapped, thus causing
the entire riverine ecosystem to suffer. Many scientists and conservationist struggled to find a
solution to what seemed like permanent damage to the ecosystem. For years they fought and
tried to get the government to pass laws to control what was happening to the ecosystems that
could not defend itself.
While trying to find a solution, congress decided in 1992-- almost 80 years after the
construction of the Elwha River dam to pass a law to restore the Elwha River. The park service
decided the best solution to the restoration would be to remove the dam over the course of 3
years. This would allow the river to be freed, and to free the 21 million cubic meters of sediment
that built up. With the downstream of the sediments, it could heal the land and water that had
been damaged due to the dam and allow the salmon to take on their natural migration pattern.
The final dam explosion did not occur until 2014.
However, with the removal of the dams, the ecosystem has seen large improvements. The
river deposited the built-up sediment into most of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This connects the
Puget Sound to the Pacific Ocean. For the first time in 100 years, the chinook has been seen in
the upper watershed. The salmon are also using the sediment to build nests, which leads to more
chinook reviving and balancing out the ecosystem.
The downside is the economical aspect of removing the dams. Taking down the Elwha
dams cost $26.9 million, and the restoration project is expected to exceed $320 million. The
United States Government made an exception to remove the dam because it did not pass the
safety inspection. The Lower Elwha Klallam tribe was at risk of being affected of the faulty dam
as well. In addition, although many studies have shown that the rivers tend to respond quickly
when a dam is removed, it isnt often a viable solution, and should not be the only solid solution
to depend on.
Another dam that has had large destruction is the Sarine River dam. The dam has had
large breakage, so now engineers are trying to find a way to bring back the rivers natural
rhythm, while also using the dam for hydroelectric power. This is becoming a common trend,
with dams degenerating while scientists and engineers are trying to find a way to keep them in
their integrity. It common for dams to degenerate over time, so now we see a trend of many dams
being deconstructed and taken down to some degree.
Many of our large-scale dams are deteriorating. The Elwha Dam Removal project is the
largest dam removal project to date. Without true ecosystem restoration, ecosystem services will
remain the same, thus leading to failure. Dam removals are intended to restore ecological
functions. The downside is that with the removal of these dams, although the intention is to
restore the rivers and streams to their natural cycle, the initial action of the removals harms the
land.
Dams can take approximately 2 to 3 years to remove because of the collection of the
sediments that were prohibited to flow downstream. The release of these sediments in the Elwha
Dam must be carefully controlled to protect the downstream fish hatchery, the Lower Elwha
Native American reservation, and the Port Angeles drinking water supply. Dams can also
experience a few short-term impacts in a negative way. Many times, supersaturation occurs,
which occurs when a gas-bubble disease in a fish, which kills the fish.
The removal of dams does not have a positive on all species. There are many species that
have learned to thrive in the area where the water has been cut off. While a dam removal may
negatively impact some species, in a large amount of cases, the actual dam removal reestablishes
the native ecosystems of the native aquatic organisms. It will also support the recovery of these
aquatic animals and plants.
Any decision made about dams, whether to keep them or remove them, will have some
sort of an impact. If removed, careful examination and of all the potential ecological impacts of
dam removal must be considered. If the dams are kept, they will continue to ruin the ecology of
the land, plants, and animals. The various types of salmon including the Chinook, will continue
to be affected, and continue to be unable to hosts sustainable nesting grounds. In addition, the
sediments will continue to build up, causing more build-up which alters the ability of the dams to
hold the sufficient amount of water that they are designed to carry.
It is essential for scientists and engineers alike to come to a solution, because the
ecosystem will continue to suffer at the hands of those who are in power, and also who are
careless. The removal of dams will allow the water to return to its natural flow, temperature
regime, and sediment transport to the river system. By the year 2020, all the large-scale dams in
the United States will be about 50 years old, the same amount of time that they are supposed to
be repaired and redone. There are better ways to find alternative power and alternative ways to
get water. Dams must be removed.
 Literary Citations.
1. America's Outdoor Laboratory. By: OHLSON, KRISTIN, Discover, 02747529, Apr2016,
Vol. 37, Issue 3.
2. New Scientist. By: COOK, TERRI 7/1/2017, Vol. 235 Issue 3132, p36-39. 4p
3. Oxidation Communication 39, No 4-11. 3544-3548 (2016)