A self-identifying environmentalist could be \"for\" dams, or \"against\" dams.

Question

A self-identifying environmentalist could be "for" dams, or "against" dams. For instance, an environmentalist "for" dams might say that hydropower electricity generation has little to no carbon emissions and therefore is an environmentally-friendly way to produce energy. An environmentalist "against" dams might say that dams displace local wildlife and severely decrease salmon runs in rivers, disrupting local ecosystems. (Someone could also be "for" or "against" dams for other non-environmental reasons). Where do you stand on the issue? In two paragraphs, pick a side (for or against dams), with a well-reasoned argument (Do NOT just reiterate what I taught you in class--put some thought into it!). Are the reasons you state for your argument environmental, economic, based off human-rights, etc.

Explanation / Answer

Having worked on a post graduate dissertation on a dam, I am personally against building of dams. For me, there are many "cons" compared to the "pros". For example, dams (which act as a barrier) block the rivers in its natural course, which causes a life threatening situation to the migratory fishes in the upstream of the dam. These fishes often mate in different location along the river, and hence there would be a reduction in the population of that fish species. Fish species in the downstream also suffer because the sediments (their food) gets blocked by the dam and cannot flow to the downstream of the dam. So upstream or downstream, there will be a reduction of population of fishes and other marine organisms

In the human side, large swades of settlements have to be vacated for the reservoir and can cause problems for their normalcy if they are not compensated fairly. If the dam is constructed in a forested land, obviously large portions of forest will be inundated which are "homes" for many widlife creatures. A fairly unknown problem of dams is Earthquakes. How do dams cause earthquakes ??? (my dissertation is based on this on a planned reservoir). Dams are known to block water in the upstream portion of the river, when this water in huge quantity is stagnant, there can be seepage of the reservoir water into the basement rocks, and if there is a paleo fault underneath, the water can lubricate the fault and can cause movement along the fault line which causes earthquakes

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