Impact of Hoover Dam on Ecosystems and Hydroelectricity

The Hoover Dam, built in 1935 on the Colorado River during the Great Depression, plays a significant role in controlling floods, providing power to millions, and impacting ecosystems and water supplies. The dam's construction altered the natural flow of water, changed the local climate, and created a barrier dividing ecosystems. Despite providing essential services, the dam's presence has negative environmental effects, disrupting natural processes like fish migration and increasing erosion rates.

• Hoover Dam
• Ecosystems
• Hydroelectricity
• Environmental Impact
• Water Management

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1. Team Popeye Hoover Dam By: Jack Pardi, Mitchell Barber, Andy Hall

2. Research Question What is the influence of the Hoover Dam separating two ecosystems for hydroelectricity? https://www.google.com/search?q=hoover+dam+cool+pics&es_sm=91&biw= 1280&bih=684&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIrve hkuXjyAIVSOcaCh2hpAg3#imgrc=RlA0OkMuIxwTWM%3A

3. History of Hoover Dam Built in 1935 during Great Depression on Colorado River 1 Cost 49 million dollars 2 Built using locally quarried materials First time anyone tried to construct a dam of that scale. 2 Needed to provide power and regulate the Colorado River 3 http://www.history.com/topics/hoover-dam 1."Hoover Dam and the Negative Effects on Environment." Hoover Dam and the Negative Effects on Environment. LinkedIn Corporation, 21 May 2010. Web. 20 Oct. 2015. 2. Petroski, Henry. "Engineering: Hoover Dam." American Scientist 81.6 (1993): 517-21. JSTOR. ITHAKA. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <www.jstor.org>.

4. Background The dam became a barrier within an ecosystem and turned it into two Altered the rivers natural flow of water1 Changed the climate near it's location from desert to farmable land2 http://www.slideshare.net/Lengkengs/hoover-dam-and-the-negative- effects-on-environment-4204612 Hydropower Basics. Green Energy Ohio RSS. Green Energy Ohio, 23 Feb. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. 1. 2. Petroski, Henry. "Engineering: Hoover Dam." American Scientist 81.6 (1993): 517-21. JSTOR. ITHAKA. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <www.jstor.org>.

5. Significance of Dam Makes the water level more reliable by controlling flooding and droughts1 Hoover Dam provides power to millions of people It's water supply also impacts millions of people, along with many acres of farmland Hoover Dam was viewed as a "conquest of nature" and paved the way for future projects2 http://www.geekygirlengineer.com/2012/ 11/28/hoover-dam-and-bypass-bridge/ 1. Petroski, Henry. "Engineering: Hoover Dam." American Scientist 81.6 (1993): 517-21. JSTOR. ITHAKA. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <www.jstor.org>. 2. Leslie, Jacques. "The Struggle Over Dams, Displaced People and the Environment." Deep Water: The Epic Struggle over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005. Print.

6. Current State Scouring of the bottom of river increases rate of erosion1 Dams prevent the natural order of disturbances from occurring2 Floods used to take fish eggs no longer happen Floods also are used to take fertile soil into the water Fish no longer can migrate up stream to reproduce Ion concentration increases3 Creates an imbalance of nutrients as dissolved salt can pass the dam but nutrients cannot 1. 2. 3. "Environmental Impacts of Dams." International Rivers. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <http://www.internationalrivers.org/environmental-impacts-of-dams>. The Ecology of Dams. Chamisa Freeshell. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <http://chamisa.freeshell.org/dam.htm>. Manyari, Waleska Valenca, and Osmar Abilio De Carvalho, Jr. "Environmental considerations in energy planning for the Amazon region: Downstream effects of dams." Energy Policy. 12th ed. Vol. 35. N.p.: Elsevier ScienceDirect Journals, 2007. PDF file.

7. Debate Cons Pros Provides hydroelectric power to people around the area1 Increases ion concentration of water2 Prevents fish migration3 Regulates water levels more effectively and controls flooding1 Increases rates of erosion3 1. Petroski, Henry. "Engineering: Hoover Dam." American Scientist 81.6 (1993): 517-21. JSTOR. ITHAKA. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <www.jstor.org>. Manyari, Waleska Valenca, and Osmar Abilio De Carvalho, Jr. "Environmental considerations in energy planning for the Amazon region: Downstream effects of dams." Energy Policy. 12th ed. Vol. 35. N.p.: Elsevier ScienceDirect Journals, 2007. PDF file. 2. " 3.Environmental Impacts of Dams." International Rivers. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <http://www.internationalrivers.org/environmental-impacts-of-dams>.

8. Future Improvements Provide fish ladders that are safer and more convenient for fish to use 1 Agitate water on downstream side so oxygen dissolves 2 Reduce the number of ions allowed to pass through the dam 3 http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fish_passage/a bout_dams_and_fish/fish_ladders.html 1. The Ecology of Dams. Chamisa Freeshell. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <http://chamisa.freeshell.org/dam.htm>. 2. "Environmental Impacts of Dams." International Rivers. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <http://www.internationalrivers.org/environmental-impacts-of-dams>. 3. Manyari, Waleska Valenca, and Osmar Abilio De Carvalho, Jr. "Environmental considerations in energy planning for the Amazon region: Downstream effects of dams." Energy Policy. 12th ed. Vol. 35. N.p.: Elsevier ScienceDirect Journals, 2007. PDF file.

9. Works Cited "Environmental Impacts of Dams." International Rivers. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <http://www.internationalrivers.org/environmental-impacts-of-dams>. Hydropower Basics. Green Energy Ohio RSS. Green Energy Ohio, 23 Feb. 2010. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. Manyari, Waleska Valenca, and Osmar Abilio De Carvalho, Jr. "Environmental considerations in energy planning for the Amazon region: Downstream effects of dams." Energy Policy. 12th ed. Vol. 35. N.p.: Elsevier ScienceDirect Journals, 2007. PDF file. The Ecology of Dams. Chamisa Freeshell. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <http://chamisa.freeshell.org/dam.htm>. Leslie, Jacques. "The Struggle Over Dams, Displaced People and the Environment." Deep Water: The Epic Struggle over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2005. Print. Petroski, Henry. "Engineering: Hoover Dam." American Scientist 81.6 (1993): 517-21. JSTOR. ITHAKA. Web. 29 Sept. 2015. <www.jstor.org>. "Hoover Dam and the Negative Effects on Environment." Hoover Dam and the Negative Effects on Environment. LinkedIn Corporation, 21 May 2010. Web. 20 Oct. 2015.