...Hoover Dam Located in the middle of America’s Southwest desert, seven hundred feet high, weighing 6,6 million tons and creating a huge lake, stands Hoover dam, which is impressive creation. Ironically it is fitted in the most dry place on earth, in Nevada’s desert nearby Las vegas. Building the Hoover dam was the largest government project ever attempted. Hoover dam had to provide: fluid control, irrigation, drinking water and electricity. Without controlling the river Colorado into Hoover dam there would not be any possibility to build up cities like Las vegas. Hoover dam is one of the primary attractions for the visitors Las vegas from the whole world. More than one million tourists per year come here to see the spectacular piece of human work. The river Colorado is the same river, which carves the worldwide famous natural sight the Grand Canyon. The watercourse is 14 hundred miles long and it flows through seven states: Wyoiming, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, California, Arizona and New Mexico. The river ends into the Gulf of California. Robet Walsh from Bureau of Reclamation says, that the early settlers who were trying to build up their own economy were ruined in the spring, because of the flood, which had been caused by melting tons of snow in Rocky Mountains and in the summer when the farmers really need the water they could not get enough to irrigating. So they had to take the control over the devastating river and the first idea about dam was born. In the beginning...
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...What if the fish make it past the dam? Due to the rising of water temperatures caused by the dam, the fish will either die from heat stroke or develop whirling disease. What do a few fish matter anyway? Salmon are a food source for orcas, bears, and even humans. So without these precious fish humans will not only lose a delicious food, but also cause the population of many other species to be depleted. So it is critical for these fish to reach their native breeding grounds. How many will successfully complete this miraculous journey? Currently about 90% of fish die before making it past dams such as the Ice Harbor Dam in Washington (Nicole 2). In rivers such as the Snake River. That has caused a decrease in the number of fish from a whopping 400,000 in its "pre dam" era to 3,000 currently....
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...on a long term basis like dams to be constructed on the rivers in the Northern Gujarat. The project would bring about many positive changes like increased in irrigation and productivity but one issue persisted. This issue was of great importance as it was concerned with the famous Bhavnath temple falling in the middle of the reservoir. After a lot of discussion and negotiation, assurance was given to safeguard the interests of the people. The government later proposed an increase in the dimension of dam because of higher promised returns, but this would lead to submerging the temple. This caused resistance and hence the negotiations failed. Situation Analysis In 1947 after independence the government directed all their plans towards all – round economic development of the country. The country was economically very weak at the time of independence. The Bombay province understood the importance of agriculture and thus decided to build earthen dams across the rivers of Lokmata and Sadmata to increase the economic conditions of the country. In order to go ahead with the project the government had to rehabilitate the people getting affected and also the temple would be lost and so the only solution was to relocate the temple and its deities. This was opposed by the natives and locals even after negotiations about relocating and preserving the temple. The dam was to be built in the order to provide irrigation to the agricultural fields. The series of dam to be built in Northern Gujarat...
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...John Cauley Research Paper Dr.Babaie November 25th 2012 Dammed If We Do Dammed If We Don’t In our everyday lives we rarely think of how we get our drinking water or where it even comes from. If we were to do a little research we would most likely come to the conclusion that it came from, or was in some part due to the use of a dam. Dams are part of everyday life and impact us in more ways than we can even express. First there are the general purposes we all think about: recreation (boating, swimming, etc.), drinking or water for irrigation, and possibly energy production better known as hydroelectric power generation. Yet there are many more active, passive, and even religious ways that dams effect the many cultures, whether effluent or poor; around the globe (Abraham). * Going back to ancient Rome there is mention of retaining and trapping water for public and civil uses. They created the first aqueducts not to far off from the systems many countries still use today to deliver their water for drinking and other public uses, such as filling fountains and using for mill power. It was said that no matter how much of a drought or shortage of water in Rome, the fountains were the last thing to be shut down (public drinking water, even water for the senate was shut off) were the public fountains, to show Rome’s great power and prestige in case of invasion, and for public image also. * Today we live in a much more complicated world. A world filled with...
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...You are here: Home » About Sustainability > Environmental > Water Quality ------------------------------------------------- Water Quality Where water quality issues are prevalent, there are a number of design and operational systems that can be used to minimise impacts of a hydropower scheme within a reservoir and downstream. These begin with adequate data collection and a comprehensive environmental assessment process. Issue Changes in water quality may occur within and downstream of the development as a result of impoundment. The residence time of water within a reservoir is an influence on the scale of these changes, along with bathymetry, climate and catchment activities. Where water quality issues arise, they can vary greatly and can include reduced oxygenation, temperature, stratification potential, pollutant inflow, propensity for disease proliferation, nutrient capture, algal bloom potential and the release of toxicants from inundated sediments. Some water quality problems relate to activities within the catchment beyond the direct control of the proponent but which can cause water quality problems when compounded with the power station operations. Flooding of biomass, especially forests, results in underwater decay. In deep lakes that tend to stratify, colder de-oxygenated water at depths in the lake have in some cases released metals from the sediments e.g. methylmercury. Deep intakes can in some cases result in deoxygenated and hydrogen sulphide rich releases...
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...Introduction Fortis Inc., a company with interests in various North American electric utilities, is proposing to build the Chalillo dam on the Macal River in Belize, Central America. The dam would contribute to the economic development of the country by meeting the increasing demand from industry and consumers for electricity. The company believes that the dam is the most feasible, reliable, and cheap supply of electricity. Environmental non-governmental organizations (ENGOs) oppose the project because of the destruction of wild animal and plant life and the adverse downstream impact, and allege that there are more viable and cost-effective sources. Through a strategic analysis of the issues surrounding the case, we will analyze each alternative to present the best possible recommendation to Fortis Inc. Issues The most prominent issue faced by Fortis Inc. with respect to the Chalillo project is the potential environmental effects. A number of groups are opposed to the project due to the location, on a river where a rare ecosystem exists. The project would build a dam on the river, regulating the flow of the river, preventing flooding and providing a more consistent source of water. While this certainly is a benefit to the individuals residing downstream of the proposed site, it does cause a disruption in the natural environmental cycle. The area that would be impacted was host to a rare and discrete floral floodplain habitat. The system relied on the seasonal flooding and...
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...writes the story of The Buffalo Creek Disaster, how a coal cleaning impoundment dam burst, killing 125 people injuring more than 1000 and causing over 4000 people to be homeless. Stern describes victims losing family members before their eyes, and the devastation caused by the flood. The writer also describes the causes of the disaster, and action he and his legal team team took on behalf of the victims, because it was, “the right thing [to do]” (21). This story tells how Stern and his colleagues worked as a team, made their way through the US legal system, and find justice for the victims. “One [Saturday] morning in February [26th] 1972… A coal company’s massive coal-refuse pile…collapsed without warning…killing 125 people mostly women and children” (Prologue). This horrible event captured the nation’s attention. Filmed news reports showed the black water rushing through the canyon that paralleled buffalo creek in the State of West Virginia. The high waters washed houses, people, telephone poles, rubbish, irreplaceable personal possessions and keepsakes away forever. Stearns an attorney, had helped with the civil rights struggle in the 1960’s and wanted to help the flood victims recover from the horrific disaster. Stearns law firm, Arnold & Potter, supported one partner each year take cases pro bono publico Cases-public interest cases. Stearns and his legal team took the case on. The dam that collapsed belonged to “The Buffalo Mining Company” who’s sole stock holder is...
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...Darwin festival writing assignment Feedback about hurricane Katrina: the storm that drowned a city The presentation is about hurricane Katrina, which happened in 2005. The disaster area covered nearly northeast region. New Orleans is one of the cities that get a heavy toll and it turned out to be loss of life and economy. The great disaster let audiences think of why New Orleans is especially vulnerable to hurricane. For New Orleans geography location perspective to see, incontrovertible, it near the ocean, each year’s August and September, the hurricane land to the near shore city, so the New Orleans is the first target suffer from it. Another nature fact, low elevation makes sea water inundate the city more easily. However, nature factors lead to the destructive damage to New Orleans is a little exaggeratory, the human action actually play a major role. To make more space, the city builds drained system around area, and it appears expand tend, that is, let the origin land become lower. Building dams potentially aggravate hurricane. Building dam for the purpose of generate power and regulate river water storage is benefit for city’s resident life and economy, but when the dam situated in upstream, which intercept sediment and silt flow to downstream, with sediment reduce, near shore area lack of barrier to protect and thus sea water comes in. Tragedy has become reality already, when hurricane done, it’s the time to us self-examination and take some emergency preparedness...
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...EFFECTS (IMPACTS) OF TEHRI DAM By S.C.Sharma, Former General Manager THDC Ltd. 1. INTRODUCTION The probable effects of human activities regarding the use of environmental resources on natural environment is called environmental impact, and the assessment and evaluation of environmental effects of human activities are called environmental impact assessment (EIA). Thus, EIA is an instrument to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project, evaluate alternatives, and design appropriate mitigation, management and monitoring measures. EIA should also be conducted for social environments, i.e., impacts of project on human beings. The main activities involved in EIA are : i) Identification of likely impacts. ii) Conduction of baseline studies to collect various available information related to the particular impact. iii) Impact prediction and assessment. iv) Impact interpretation or evaluation. v) Identification of monitoring requirements and mitigating measures. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TEHRI DAM The Project has identified both positive and negative impacts. Efforts were made to get full advantage of positive impacts by formulating suitable schemes. As we know that dam is essentially an artificial wall constructed across a river which converts a running water ecosystem into a lake type ecosystem. This causes some changes in basic riverine ecosystem....
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...EFFECTS (IMPACTS) OF TEHRI DAM By S.C.Sharma, Former General Manager THDC Ltd. 1. INTRODUCTION The probable effects of human activities regarding the use of environmental resources on natural environment is called environmental impact, and the assessment and evaluation of environmental effects of human activities are called environmental impact assessment (EIA). Thus, EIA is an instrument to identify and assess the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project, evaluate alternatives, and design appropriate mitigation, management and monitoring measures. EIA should also be conducted for social environments, i.e., impacts of project on human beings. The main activities involved in EIA are : i) Identification of likely impacts. ii) Conduction of baseline studies to collect various available information related to the particular impact. iii) Impact prediction and assessment. iv) Impact interpretation or evaluation. v) Identification of monitoring requirements and mitigating measures. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF TEHRI DAM The Project has identified both positive and negative impacts. Efforts were made to get full advantage of positive impacts by formulating suitable schemes. As we know that dam is essentially an artificial wall constructed across a river which converts a running water ecosystem into a lake type ecosystem. This causes some changes in basic riverine ecosystem....
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...visit, the men from the NGO went to the police station to lodge a complaint, because bonded labour is illegal in India, and so is child labour in a profession as hazardous as this. The complaints, and the articles written by the journalists after the visit, were part of the NGO campaign to make the government implement the law. Every day, different NGOs all over India are doing things like this. Sometime it may be taking a sample of water from a well that has been polluted by a nearby factory, getting the water analysed and then filing a "public interest petition" in a court to force the factory to follow anti-pollution laws. Another time, it may be a heated debate with a bureaucrat on why all citizens should have the right to be informed about all government decisions that affect their lives. Though the term NGO became popular in India only in the 1980s, the voluntary sector has an older tradition. Since independence from the British in 1947, the...
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...Company opened Mine No.5 at the almost the top of the Buffalo hallow. The dumping of sludge from this mine was happening at the mouth of the middle fork. It functioned just like a dam and was viewed like one without much thought. When the Buffalo Mining Company took over Lorada, they began dumpling sludge behind the first “dam” at the middle fork stream. In 1967, the old dam proved problematic when it failed however there was no considerable damage. The coal mining company did not take the threat seriously as it continued to pile waste. In 1970, when Pittson coal took over, the danger exponentially increased as a third dam was constructed behind the first two which completely blocked the streams by a network of sledge dams. In the last week of February 1972, ponds/streams behind the first dam started to rise. These ponds had millions of tons of sludgy material at the bottom that acted as quick sand. The rain and snow pounding along with routinely 500,00 gallons water inflow from the Pittson Coal Company cleansing plant lead a to dramatic increase in water levels. Only on February 25th, officials first questioned the stability of the dams. The dams had no drainage system installed or any pressure release mechanisms. Also, although the state had citied the Pittson Coal Company subsequent to the 1st dam failure, there company had taken to...
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...Flood as a social problem There are few places on Earth where people need not be concerned about flooding. With the onset of rainy season, we need to be prepared for possible flash floods, landslides, and related disasters especially in high risk and vulnerable areas, that is why in Philippines flood is a major problem. Many people die every year because of this natural disaster. Most floods take hours or even days to develop, giving residents ample time to prepare or evacuate, but not in Philippines floods develop in a shorter period. Others generate quickly and with little warning. These flash floods can be extremely dangerous, instantly turning a babbling brook into a thundering wall of water and sweeping everything in its path downstream. There are many causes of flood. Typhoons may cause flooding to coastal areas. When there is a typhoon, the atmospheric pressure is low. Sea level rises and affects the volume of water flowing from the river to the sea. This indirectly leads to flooding. Flooding always occur in coastal areas. Because whenever there are high tides or storms, the sea level will raise. If the sea level is higher than the level of the coastal lowland, flooding will occur. Heavy rainfall raises the water level. When the water level is higher than the river banks or the dams, the water comes out from the river, there will have flooding. But even small amount of rainfalls in our country may cause flood. This graph says that ten percent of the fatalities during...
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...submerge in water. AP&L recorded the easements, and anyone who purchased any of the lakeside property was aware of the flood easements. In May of 1990 heavy rains fell in the area, so reaching up to ten inches which casued the highest levels ever recorded. In order to avoid flooding Lake Hamilton AP&L decided to open the Carpenter dam gates. By opening the dam, Lake Catherine flooded and caused up to twenty-five feet of water to rise in some areas which caused extensive damage to many houses and flood water rose to roof levels in many areas. Dozens of landowners sued as they felt AP&L were negligent in opening one dam gate and not opening another one and for not notifying the owners that they were planning on opening the dams. AP&L stated there was no time to notify anyone as they had a duty to move quickly and to protect a wider area of residents that would have been affected by the flooding from the rains. The homeowners were well aware of the easements on their property. Even thought the easements were obtained years earlier, anyone who bought the land knew about the easements, but never thought they would need to worry about AP&L having to use the flood easements. The company acted within its means and due to the...
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...built power plants in 16 countries where they maintained an ownership in about half of them. The company has targeted a construction of large dam in Uganda Africa. HG put Charles Martin in this project to facilitate the preliminary construction and in case up to the construction phase to get an operating structure and facility start-up activities that includes obtaining licenses, installing telephones and utilities and securing the initial staff that would hire the full range of local personnel. But Vice president James Green pondered whether to continue employing Martin for the construction phase of the project. In particular, Green was concerned about Martin’s lifestyle, some of his business practices, and his participation in Ugandan tribal rituals. Green worried that Martin’s practices were counter to both HG’s corporate culture and methods of operating elsewhere, that some of his actions bordered on the unethical, and that some might be illegal under U.S. law. Characters in the case Lawrence Lovell * HG’s founder and CEO * A devout Christian and very influential in shaping the company’s management culture * Believed that business activities should embody strong Christian values and that subordinates should be given full responsibility in making and implementing decisions but they should be held accountable for their results. James Green * HG’s vice president * Concerned about business practices and lifestyle Charles Martin * 26 yrs. old ...
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