Event Title
Ecological Effects of Dams and Dam Removal
Location
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
Start Date
30-4-2015 2:00 PM
End Date
30-4-2015 3:55 PM
Project Type
Poster
Description
The construction and use of dams are known to create habitat fragmentation within freshwater ecosystems. Rivers and other freshwater sources fragmented by dams suffer a loss of biodiversity and other long-term ecological effects, which are still being studied. These ecological effects can range from lower groundwater tables, collection of beneficial sediment upstream, decrease in nutrient cycling, to terrestrial ecosystem disturbance and can lead to the extinction of many aquatic species. The removal of dams restores some of the previous ecological integrity, but if the process is not carried out appropriately it can cause its own ecological disturbances and harmful long-term effects. If dam removal is not carried out carefully there can be a quick change of river flow and vast amounts of sediment transported downstream. This sediment can severely alter the river ecosystem and the damage can extend far further downstream from the dam removal . Looking at three case studies, the Edward's Dam, the Fort Halifax Dam, and the Veazie Dam, reveal that habitat fragmentation caused by dams results in biodiversity loss from the loss of local anadramous fish populations, substrate organisms, and low elevation riparian communities and natural wetlands. Because of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity loss, important ecological services such as the cycling of water, nutrients, sediment, and organic matter are restricted. Short-term effects of dam removal also have to be taken into consideration.
Faculty Sponsor
Russ Cole
Sponsoring Department
Colby College. Environmental Studies Program
CLAS Field of Study
Interdisciplinary Studies
Event Website
http://www.colby.edu/clas
ID
1825
Ecological Effects of Dams and Dam Removal
Parker-Reed, SSWAC
The construction and use of dams are known to create habitat fragmentation within freshwater ecosystems. Rivers and other freshwater sources fragmented by dams suffer a loss of biodiversity and other long-term ecological effects, which are still being studied. These ecological effects can range from lower groundwater tables, collection of beneficial sediment upstream, decrease in nutrient cycling, to terrestrial ecosystem disturbance and can lead to the extinction of many aquatic species. The removal of dams restores some of the previous ecological integrity, but if the process is not carried out appropriately it can cause its own ecological disturbances and harmful long-term effects. If dam removal is not carried out carefully there can be a quick change of river flow and vast amounts of sediment transported downstream. This sediment can severely alter the river ecosystem and the damage can extend far further downstream from the dam removal . Looking at three case studies, the Edward's Dam, the Fort Halifax Dam, and the Veazie Dam, reveal that habitat fragmentation caused by dams results in biodiversity loss from the loss of local anadramous fish populations, substrate organisms, and low elevation riparian communities and natural wetlands. Because of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity loss, important ecological services such as the cycling of water, nutrients, sediment, and organic matter are restricted. Short-term effects of dam removal also have to be taken into consideration.
https://digitalcommons.colby.edu/clas/2015/program/35