Outline and Updated Bibliography

Thesis: Dams are beneficial assets to human life, but should only be built and maintained if they are also designed to not be substantial environmental liabilities through the equal distribution of water and sediments, the monitoring of water and air quality, proper preparations for reservoirs, the maintenance of surrounding life, and the installation of hydroelectric capabilities.


Outline (Note that * denotes the solutions)


Introduction Paragraph: Introduce issue

• discuss widespread use of dams
• only recent analysis of environmental effects
• describe how a dam looks and operates
• info on other perspectives (remove all dams/keep dams as are) and give argument perspective of keep dams, but change them
provide thesis

Benefits/Need for dams Paragraph: Discuss benefits of dams and lead into the however point of problems that need fixed

Support human and animal life

• Flood control
• Irrigation
• Water supply
• Renewable Energy


Water/Sediment distribution Paragraph: Present issues and solutions

• Water cannot reach mouth of some rivers
• Loss of reservoir depth
• Erosion
• Landslides
• Spreading of sediments below dam*
• Artificial floods*
• Agreements on water flow*


Water/Air quality Paragraph: Present issues and solutions

• Lack of oxygen in water below dam
• Release of greenhouse gases into air from decomposing vegetation/animals
• Water quality decrease from decomposing and mercury from soil
• Water becomes dangerous for consumption
• Artificial floods*
• Proper management during creation and operation*


Reservoir/Care for life paragraph: Present issues and solutions

• Loss of beautiful/diverse/needed land
• Earthquakes
• Displacement of humans
• Loss of wildlife
• Loss of vegetation
• Loss of diversity
• Greenhouse gases from decomposition
• Proper analysis of need of dam/effect on land*
• Transportation of animals and vegetation before filling of reservoir*


Migration paths paragraph: Present issues and solutions

• Disruption of migration for fish
• Loss of diversity
• Disruption of migration for land animals
• Loss of diversity
• Inbreeding in animals
• Lack of food for animals
• Lack of food for humans
• Creation of a ladder system to allow fish to pass through dam*
• Creation of alternative water paths for fish to bypass dam*
• Creation of alternative land paths for land animals to bypass dam*


Hydroelectric dams paragraph: Present issues and solutions

• Lack of use of hydroelectric dams
• Issues of hydropower’s low pollution being overshadowed by pollution from overall dam
• Fitting already existing dams with hydroelectric capabilities*
• Construction of future dams as hydroelectric dams*


Conclusion paragraph: summarize everything

• Restate thesis with different wording
• Sum up issues and solutions
• Final thoughts on benefits and future of dams

References

Krishna, Sumi. Environmental Politics: People’s Lives and Development Choices. California: Sage Publications, 1996, Print.

McCartney, Matthew. "Living with dams: managing the environmental impacts." Water Policy 11.s1 (2009), 121-139.

McCully, Patrick. "Rivers No More: The Environmental Effects of Large Dams." International Rivers. International Rivers, Web. 1 Feb 2010. http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/1636

Myron, Levin. "INNOVATE: CLEAN POWER THAT'S EASY ON THE ENVIRONMENT." Sierra 95.1 (2010), 14-14.

Yardley, Jim. “Chinese Dam Projects Criticized for Their Human Costs." New York Times November 19, 2007: 1-5. Web. 1 Feb 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/world/asia/19dam.html.

Yuksel, I. "Dams and Hydropower for Sustainable Development." Energy Sources Part B Economics Planning and Policy 4.1 (2009), 100-110.

WWF, . "Dams Initiative." WWF for a living planet. Web. 22 Feb 2010. http://www.panda.org/what_we_do/footprint/water/dams_initiative/.

Food, Inc. 183-218

This section includes three different readings. The first is by an eloquent farmer concerning taking back food from the farming corporations. He discusses the ways food is current produced with animals being fed chemicals and living their entire lives in cramped, indoor facilities. He discusses how the chemicals used today were not in food just mere decades ago. This food is unnatural in that we are placing chemicals in order bodies that are bodies do not even possess in it. His strongest points come from his comparisons with slavery. First, food safety is determined by politicians who although intelligent are also in the positions that once thought slaves were did not count as a full human. He also discusses slavery when he gives his solution to the powerful, money hungry food corporations. He discusses how consumers need only opt out of the system in order to change it as was the starting point of the movement to free slaves in the US and give them citizenship. I agree with him that the safety of food is a choice, an opinion, subjective, and relative. I feel that the fewer steps placed between nature and my plate, the healthier and safer my food will be for me. This is what I feel the author is also saying.

The next reading discusses questions to ask farmers. The questions discuss things like how was the animal raised, what was the animal fed, and how was the animal prepared for eating. It also offers explanations as to why these questions are important. I think it would be difficult for most consumers to find the farmers who raised and prepared their foods. After all, the meat and eggs are all combined from countless animals. So, how do you find the source? The answers must all be the same for farmers in order for the answers to be accurate.

The final reading for this section discusses nutrition. The author discusses how tests on nutrition generally only focus on single nutrients. This leaves out the overall food. Food companies can use the results to highlight one healthy fact while shadowing the facts concerning the unhealthy elements of foods (including candy). It is also discussed how different test results cause information thought to be facts to seem more unclear. There is information that shows organic food may not be as healthy as thought, but still healthier than conventional foods, that bone strength may not be as dependent on drinking milk, a connection between meat raising risks for cancer, and that soda does not necessarily cause obesity. But then, information from other tests can be used to support the opposites of these points. So, the nutritional facts on the label may not be as factual as the consumer population thinks. This reading really focuses on facts and information, while the first reading combined facts/information with some convincing emotional appeals. Both methods had a similar effect on me though.

Food, Inc. 91-122, 169-177

This book continues to shock readers with essays concerning the environment. The topics covered include the production of ethanol, pesticides, and global climate change. It is discussed how stupid it is to be producing ethanol. The world is going through a food crisis, but not a fossil fuels crisis. The US is unnecessarily driving up the price of corn globally. Apparently, lobbyists for the farmers were able to convince politicians that ethanol could greatly reduce the US's reliance on foreign fuels (93). As a result, one-third of all of the corn produced in the US is going towards producing ethanol (93). The production of ethanol has been argued to release more greenhouse gases than the production of conventional gasoline. It causes air and water pollution. It is not a friend of the environment. Ethanol gasoline even if produced at its peak in the US would only cover about six percent of the US's oil needs (93). Ethanol is only filling the pockets of the agriculture industry while emptying the stomachs of the starving.

The increased use of pesticides on produce is causing more pesticides to end up inside of humans. This contamination is especially dangerous for the young as they cannot handle the pesticides as well as adults (103). Pesticides have even been found in baby foods and can lead to various cognitive deficits. I try to wash off produce before I eat it, but I know that is not enough to get all of the pesticides off. It is insane to consider that even the healthy food is considered bad for your health. Is the produce at the dining halls at Ohio University washed at all before being served?

The chapters discussing climate change deal with the large emissions caused by the food industry and how individuals can change things. The food industry causes a large amount of the climate change due to poor management of land, agricultural release of gases, poor management of waste, and long transportation routes (108). The solutions to global climate change offered are interesting. It will take the consumers acting together. We will need to monitor food characteristics like organic, local, processing, and packaging (120-122). It is even mentioned the benefits of growing your own garden for food (175). Such a wide-spread consciousness of the link between food and the environment will cause the food industry to change to the tastes of its consumers. If the same consciousness is provided to energy, the government will put in place laws to produce and use renewable energy. It just takes a large enough group of humans working together. Honestly, I have my doubts that such movements are possible. Humans and Americans in particular have issues with uniting especially when politics are involved. It will take strong leaders to unite Americans and especially humans in general.

Research Argument Position

Following my research of the environmental effects of dams, I found reasons for and against dams. The issues like land destruction, loss of vegetation and wildlife, and sedimentation wanted me to argue for the complete removal of dams. However, I also research how dams can benefit the flow of water, provide renewable electricity, and promote life in areas previously uninhabitable. I realized how important the use of dams are to some humans' ways of life. They provide water reservoirs to humans in more desert-like environments like in the Western United States. They even prevent the downtown area of my hometown from flooding more often. Dams are too embedded in our lives to be completely taken away.

So, I am going to go on the position of the continued use of dams. However, I want all of the present dams and any new dams to be equipped with various methods to greatly reduce the negative environmental effects while maintaining the positives. These methods include the increased use of hydroelectric dams, transportation of vegetation and wildlife from a reservoir sites, means of not disrupting the migration patterns of wildlife, and the equal distribution of water flow and sediments. I am going to argue for the eco-conscious management of dams.

Film to Book Comparison

The strongest method in the film for getting the point across was the interviews with real people. These interviews with real people showed up the way we are producing food is affected good, average people in negative ways. These first hand accounts were touching and convincing. The interviews with the farmer who still feeds his animals grass and keeps them outside stood out to me the most. This farmer could increase his production and wealth by feeding animals corn and keeping them inside, but he won't do it because of his ethics and morals. He wants to raise healthy animals, so that humans can consume them and stay healthy as well. The farmer also discussed how the food industry wanted to shut him down because he slaughters the animals outside. He countered this by discussing how chemicals are not used on the meat he produces. In the end, this man seemed like the most intelligent farmer I have ever seen. Another farmer in the film who used the meat industry's way of raising and who was wealthier did not seem nearly as intelligent. The farmer still using grass could explain everything behind the meat better, just used bigger words, and did not compromise his values when compared to the farmer using the meat industry's methods. This comparison really stood out to me even if it was not pointed out in the film. It make me think about a whole area of intelligence just focusing on the being able to use your beliefs along with sympathy/empathy to turn away from greed and blind money.

The book works as a good supplement for the film. The first two parts give good background. First about the book and then about making the film. They provide information that would not have been understood immediately from both. They provide good and interesting information, but I think the chapter on the film can never make up for viewing the film. The chapter concerning organic yogurt does good job of providing the story and information. It seems a little emotionally detached, but I do not feel that really hinders the chapter. The chapter tells the success story of the organic yogurt business, but also provides a warning of big business as it creeps into the organic realm by purchasing established businesses. Profit is their goal, not healthy food. The film and book work well together with emotion and facts.

Research Exploration Essay

For centuries now, dams have been built by humans. It is only recently that attention has been put into determining the environmental effects of dams though. A dam is built across a body of water, often times a river. This large wall is meant to control the flow of water. As the water is changed, so are the various life forms that interact with and depend on this water. Water works to shape an ecosystem and when the flow of water is altered, the ecosystem is also altered. Thus, there are environmental effects from the construction and use of dams. Some of these effects can be considered negative while others can be considered positive. This essay will explore both the negative and positive environmental effects of dams.

One of the most daunting environmental effects that occur during the construction of dams is earthquakes. During the construction of a dam, the large walling of the river slowly begins to block water from upstream. This creates a large lake-like body of water above the dam. This collection of water is better known as a reservoir. As the water fills the reservoir, great pressure is created (Yardley 3). The added stress on the land can cause “a major earthquake induced by pressure from the rising water” (Yardley 3). These earthquakes that result from the construction of dams can destroy the surrounding land and greatly damage the populations of wildlife.

The creation of the reservoirs themselves also causes another negative environmental effect. As the water fills the reservoir, it floods the areas surrounding the reservoir that was previously land. As a result, “Reservoirs have flooded vast areas — at least 400,000 square kilometres have been lost worldwide.” (McCully) That number is equivalent to 248.548 square miles. A large amount of this land was very beautiful land that is now lost. One example of beautiful land that was almost lost due to the construction of a dam was “a proposed hydroelectric project in Silent Valley”, India (Krishna 217). This land was “an uninhabited, biologically-rich tropical rain forest, one of the last remnants of its kind in the country.” (Krishna) Such a beautiful and rare ecosystem for the area would have been a great loss to the world. Luckily, the people were aware of the rarity of this land and the project was halted (Krishna 217). Sometimes, humans need to look past the usefulness of land just to them and see how the land is useful to all of Earth.

The quality of land is important as well as “river and floodplain habitats are some of the world's most diverse ecosystems” (McCully). The reservoirs also kill the vegetation and wildlife that was living on this land. It is difficult to give an exact number concerning “how many species of plants and animals are now extinct because their last habitat was flooded by a dam but the number is likely far from negligible.” (McCully) The saving of wildlife and biodiversity needs to be considered to stop these extinctions from continuing. Reservoirs also cause humans living in the area to have to move. Their living areas will be flooded by reservoirs. Sometimes, the humans are paid for their land, but other times they are not.

Once the dam is created, it cuts off the water supply and migration patterns for various animals (McCartney 128). Some fish end up trapped in the reservoir above the dam. Others will end up trapped downstream as they are unable to move upstream past the dam. Some of the fish trapped in the reservoir cannot survive as they are not used to a lake-like habitat (McCartney 128). Other fish thrive in such a habitat and survive (McCartney 128). However, “The number of fish species which thrive in the relatively uniform habitats created by reservoirs is only a tiny fraction of the number which have evolved in the diverse niches provided by rivers.” (McCully) So, the reservoirs end up having an overall negative effect on the environment.

As stated by Matthew McCartney, “Downstream of dams, marked changes in fish populations occur as a consequence of blockage of migration routes, disconnection of the river and floodplain, and changes in flow regime, physiochemical conditions (e.g. temperature, turbidity and dissolved oxygen), primary production and channel morphology. These changes may benefit some species but they generally have an adverse effect on the majority of native species.” (128)

So, both the fish trapped upstream of dams and downstream of dams experience negative consequences due to the environmental effects from the presence of dams. Land-based animals also suffer due to the migration disruptions caused by dams. It hinders their abilities to find food and “leads to the risks of inbreeding from a smaller genetic pool.” (McCully) The decrease to the fish population will result in a decrease of the population of animals dependent on fish for food. Herbivores will also suffer from the loss of vegetation due to the decrease in water flow as they are unable to easily move to find other food sources. The inbreeding of these animals over a period of time can cause mutations that will disrupt the cognitive and physical development of them. Often times, the control of water prevent it from ever reaching the river’s mouth. Such an event will cause a large drying out of the mouth area and the loss of both vegetation and animal life. It will also make the area unsuitable for human life. It will appear to almost become a desert.

Dams cause a disruption to the flow of sediments along the rivers (McCartney 125). Sediments (or rock-based minerals) naturally flow down a river. So when dams block the flow of water, they are also blocking the flow of sediments. Sediments will become trapped above the dam and pack at the bottom of reservoirs. “It is estimated that between 0.5% and 1% of the storage volume of the world's reservoirs is lost annually due to sediment deposition” (McCartney 125). As a result, dams even cause negative environmental effects to themselves. As the sediments are stuck upstream of the dam, the amount of sediments downstream is scarce. As a result, “Downstream of a dam, reduction in sediment load in rivers can result in increased erosion of riverbanks and beds, loss of floodplains (through erosion and decreased over-bank accretion) and degradation of coastal deltas.” (McCartney 125) So, the lack of sediments can cause further loss of land than just through the creation of reservoirs by dams. Such erosion can also lead to landslides as is predicted with the Three Gorges Dam in China (Yardley 1).

Dams due offer some arguably positive environmental effects, one of those being the generation of electricity. This type of power generation is known as hydroelectric. As a result, the dams that produce this power are known as hydroelectric dams. As the water flows through hydroelectric dams, turbines are turned by the flow and the resulting kinetic energy is turned into electricity. This energy is renewable as the water flow can be reused repeatedly to produce electricity. Also, “hydropower does not consume or pollute the water it uses to generate power, it leaves this vital resource available for other uses.” (Yuksel 103) Adding to that, “Hydropower has very few greenhouse gas emissions compared with other largescale energy options.” (Yuksel 103) So, it can be argued that this is a positive environmental impact in that it not only directly impacts the environment hardly at all, but is a substitute for other power generation methods that cause large amounts of pollution to damage the environment. It also offers a possible solution to current dams that are seen as having negative environment effects. Rather than just tearing down these dams, it has been discovered that 64 of the dams in the United States currently not generating hydroelectric power could be altered to generate the power (Myron 14). As a result, this could work to counter some of the previously discussed negative environmental effects of dams.

The control of water flow by dams offers numerous positive environmental effects. Dams could work to balance the harsh conditions an ecosystem experiences on a yearly basis. One example of this is that “by storing water during rainy seasons and releasing it during dry ones, dams and reservoirs can help control water during floods and droughts.” (Yuksel 103) This control could work to protect the lives of humans, vegetation, and wildlife. From the aspect of human survival, dams alter the environment to support “essential water services such as irrigation, flood control, and drinking water supplies.” (Yuksel 103) As a result of dams, humans are able to survive in ecosystems that they would otherwise die in. Dams also allow for easy navigation along rivers and help in transporting goods (Yuksel 103). All of these environmental effects that benefit humans should be considered positive effects as they promote mankind’s existence.

Some of the positive and negative environmental effects of dams have been explored within this essay. Although the negative effects are substantial, the positive effects to the environment cannot be ignored. There are individuals who view the destruction of land, vegetation, and wildlife and argue for the destruction of dams. However, there are individuals who views the positive environmental affects dams have for humans and the environment and as a result argue to continue building and using dams. A third viewpoint exists as well that argues for the continued use of dams, but for the minimizing of the negative environmental effects. Possible solutions include the placing of sediments downstream to reduce erosion, alternate paths for the migration of fish and land-based animals, transportation of animals before the filling of reservoirs, and the creation of artificial floods to promote water flow and life downstream (McCartney 130-131). Other similar solutions exist as well. No matter what viewpoint an individual uses, dams control a valuable element and result in various positive and negative environmental effects.

References

Krishna, Sumi. Environmental Politics: People’s Lives and Development Choices. California: Sage Publications, 1996, Print.

McCartney, Matthew. "Living with dams: managing the environmental impacts." Water Policy 11.s1 (2009), 121-139.

McCully, Patrick. "Rivers No More: The Environmental Effects of Large Dams." International Rivers. International Rivers, Web. 1 Feb 2010. http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/1636

Myron, Levin. "INNOVATE: CLEAN POWER THAT'S EASY ON THE ENVIRONMENT." Sierra 95.1 (2010), 14-14.

Yardley, Jim. “Chinese Dam Projects Criticized for Their Human Costs." New York Times November 19, 2007: 1-5. Web. 1 Feb 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/world/asia/19dam.html.

Yuksel, I. "Dams and Hydropower for Sustainable Development." Energy Sources Part B Economics Planning and Policy 4.1 (2009), 100-110.

Intro and Bibliography

Humans have been building dams for centuries. It is only recently though that attention has been paid to the variety of environmental impacts dams cause on the surrounding ecosystem. A dam is meant to control a fundamental part of any ecosystem, water. Altering the flow of water, alters the landscape and wildlife depending on both. One example of this is how the damming of rivers hinders the upstream and downstream movements of fish. This impact greatly hinders their migration. However, the creation of a reservoir by dams can allow certain species of fish to thrive where they would experience difficulties living in the original water system. But when these reservoirs are created, they flood previous landscapes. These landscapes along with the vegetation and wildlife on them are destroyed. Some of these buried landscapes have been beautiful scenery. A perfect example of this is the Three Gorges Dam current under construction in China. The Three Gorges area is a beautiful landscape, but is slowly being flooded by the construction of the dam. Many landslides have occurred in the area since construction began. However, I bright note that should be included is it will be a hydroelectric dam. This type of dam means that as the water passes through the dam, turbines will be turned and produce electricity without the same emissions as coal. Hydroelectric dams are not used enough in the world though to counter other emissions caused by dams though. There has been research completed though to take already existing dams and turn them into hydroelectric dams. The water that passes through dams is greatly controlled and as a result flooding is greatly reduced. This reduction in flooding can save the lives and property of humans and wildlife. However, it may also kill off vegetation downstream that depended on yearly flooding for water. The lack of vegetation may then lead to the dying off of wildlife anyway. The real environmental benefits of dams are the way they change the environment in order to support human life. The reservoirs store water for human consumption. This offers water to individuals in areas that lack an ample supply of clean water. The reservoirs also allow water for irrigation purposes, so that agriculture can take place in areas. Dams naturally control the flow of water. This allows for the prevention of flooding, which from a human standpoint is an environmental benefit. Given, the lack of flooding hinders the adaptability of animals to handle floods when they do occur. The water flow of dams can also be increased to maintain an ample water supply during dry seasons. These points show that dams create both positive and negative impacts on the environment. This research paper will greatly explore the environmental impacts of dams and the possible solutions for reducing the negative impacts created by dams.

Levin, Myron. "INNOVATE: CLEAN POWER THAT'S EASY ON THE ENVIRONMENT." Sierra 95.1 (2010), 14-14.
McCartney. "Living with dams: managing the environmental impacts." Water Policy 11.s1 (2009), 121-139.
McCully, Patrick. "Rivers No More: The Environmental Effects of Large Dams." International Rivers. International Rivers, Web. 1 Feb 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/19/world/asia/19dam.html.

Yardley, Jim. " Chinese Dam Projects Criticized for Their Human Costs." New York Times November 19, 2007: 1-5. Web. 1 Feb 2010. http://www.internationalrivers.org/en/node/1636.

A Forest Returns

I enjoyed the documentary, A Forest Returns. It was simple in that it didn't have many special effects. It was just an honest and sweet old man telling the story of how the Wayne National Forest was made. The music and pictures went along with the man's information very well. He discussed how the South East of Ohio has been stripped of trees. But, once the Great Depression hit and the area was in need of jobs, the government bought up land around here and paid people, including young men from Northern Ohio, to plant trees. People were allowed to still live in this land, but could not bother the vegetation. As a result of these seeds being planted and people not doing anything, trees sprung up into what is the Wayne National Forest that we see today. If anything, the documentary helped me to appreciate the beauty of nature more in that although I have lived in this area for my whole life, I have not really visited the Wayne National Forest. I find it hopefully that mother nature can bring back the trees and vegetation even after humans have messed things up. I hope this world is still beautiful even after the humans have left it.