Environment: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 21:52, 2 March 2026

The bald eagle, a migratory bird, is known to nest near dams

(Image Source: Wikipedia)

Reservoirs and the dams that create them can greatly impact the natural environment. Still, the principal impact comes from the work needed to construct the dam and from the initial impoundment of water. Once that has taken place, reservoirs provide different environmental benefits. For example, reservoirs support aquatic plants and animals. Surrounding lands can support migratory birds which feed on fish. Proposed dams generally change streams both upstream and downstream from where they are constructed, and the lands inundated by the reservoir are no longer available for land plants and animals, as does the development of large expanses of land for cities and crops. Society must weigh the benefits provided by dams against these tradeoffs.

Some guidance on how to design reservoirs to mitigate their impacts:

World Wildlife Foundation

United States Environmental Protection Administration

Revision ID: 8351
Revision Date: 03/02/2026

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-Bald eagles, a migratory bird, have been known to establish nests near dams
+The bald eagle, a migratory bird, is known to nest near dams
 (Image Source: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_eagle Wikipedia])
 }}
-Some dams are used to create [[reservoirs]] or lakes that provide habitat for many aquatic species or migratory birds.Some dams are used to create reservoirs or lakes that provide habitat for many aquatic species or migratory birds. There are some guidance on how to design these types of reservoirs below:
+[[Reservoirs]] and the dams that create them can greatly impact the natural environment. Still, the principal impact comes from the work needed to construct the dam and from the initial impoundment of water. Once that has taken place, reservoirs provide different [[environmental]] benefits. For example, reservoirs support aquatic plants and animals. Surrounding lands can support migratory birds which feed on fish. Proposed dams generally change streams both upstream and downstream from where they are constructed, and the lands inundated by the reservoir are no longer available for land plants and animals, as does the development of large expanses of land for cities and crops. Society must weigh the benefits provided by dams against these tradeoffs.
-https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/1sugf98ujw_Guidance_Note_on_Projects_Relating_to_Dams.pdf
+Some guidance on how to design reservoirs to mitigate their impacts:
-https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/chapter_4_dams_web.pdf
+[https://files.worldwildlife.org/wwfcmsprod/files/Publication/file/1sugf98ujw_Guidance_Note_on_Projects_Relating_to_Dams.pdf World Wildlife Foundation]
+[https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-09/documents/chapter_4_dams_web.pdf United States Environmental Protection Administration]
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