KRISTINE MAY MATURAN MS CE 1 MSU – IIT Construction area of dam (http://www.wcsience.com/giant/dam.

html)
 INTRODUCTION TO DAMS
 As human knowledge and experience advance, as well
as rapid growth in global population and economic
development, dams got bigger and bigger and grow
more in numbers in order to satisfy the growing
demands for the use and control of water for various
purposes.
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INTRODUCTION TO DAMS

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 INTRODUCTION TO DAMS

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INTRODUCTION TO DAMS
 The rise in numbers of dam building is evident in the last
century. By 1949 about 5,000 large dams had been
constructed worldwide, three-quarters of them in
industrialized countries. By the end of the 20th century, as
shown in Figure 1, there were over 45,000 large dams in
over140countries.
WHAT DOES A DAM DO?
 Technically,adamstoreswaterinthereservoirformed
behind the dam, and use and control it for whatever
purposeitisintended.
 However, a dam, especially large one, also do the
following:
Fragment and convert free-flowing (lotic) to still
(lentic)riversystem.
Floodupstreamarea
The reservoir induces physical, chemical and
biologicalchanges,allofwhichaffectwaterquality.
Reduceflowvelocityandsoenhancesedimentation.
Alterdownstreamflowregime
In addition,
Large dams have
fragmented and
transformed the
world’s rivers. The
World Resources
Institute (WRI)
found that at least
one large dam
modifies 46% of
the world’s 106
primary
watersheds.
And,
The construction of
large dams has led
to the displacement
of some 40 to 80
million people
worldwide.
THE
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS OF DAMS
Positive Environmental Impact
 The modified habitats resulting from large dams often
create environments that are more conducive to
nonnative and exotic plant, fish, snail, insect, and
animalspecies.
 In case of hydropower, CO2 emissions are reduced
compared to coal-fired power plant and other fuel-
basedpowergenerationplants.
Negative Environmental Impacts
A. Impacts duetoexistenceof dam andreservoir
1. Upstreamchangefromrivervalleytoreservoir.
2. Changes in downstream morphology of riverbed and
banks, delta, estuary and coastline due to altered
sedimentload.
3. Changes in downstream water quality: effects on river
temperature, nutrient load, turbidity, dissolved gases,
concentrationofheavymetalsandminerals.
4. Reduction of biodiversity due to the blocking of the
movementoforganismsandbecauseofchanges1,2and
3above.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF DAMS
Superimposedupontheaboveimpactsmaybe:
B. Impacts duetopatternof damoperation
1. Changesindownstreamhydrology:
a. changeintotalflows;
b. changeinseasonaltimingofflows;
c. short-termfluctuationsinflows;
d. changeinextremehighandlowflows.
2. Changes in downstream morphology caused by altered
flowpattern.
3. Changes in downstream water quality caused by altered
flowpattern.
4. Reduction in riverine/riparian/floodplain habitat diversity,
especiallybecauseofeliminationoffloods.
FLOODING FOR POSTERITY
 The permanent inundation of forests, wetlands and wildlife
is perhaps the most obvious ecological effect of a dam.
Reservoirs have flooded vast areas, yet it is not only the
amount of land lost which is important, but also its quality:
river and floodplain habitats are some of the world's most
diverseecosystems.
oMany species of plants and animals are now extinct because their
lasthabitatwasfloodedbyadam.
oCuttingoffmigratoryroutesacrossthevalleyandalongtheriver.
oAccelerateddeforestationofremoteforests/areas.
oDeclineandextinctionoffishspecies.
oHistorical land sites and most beautiful and spectacular river
scenerynow buriedbeneaththewatersofreservoir
DAMS AND GEOLOGY:
MORPHOLOGICAL EFFECTS
 All dams and reservoirs trap sediments, especially the
heavy gravels and cobbles, and thus starve the river
downstreamofitsnormalsedimentload.
 Reductioninsedimentloadinriverscanresultin:
o increasederosionofriverbanksandbeds,
oloss of floodplains (through erosion and decreased over-
bankaccretion)and
odegradationofcoastaldeltas.
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DIRTY DAMS:
EFFECTS ON WATER QUALITY
 The chemical, thermal and physical changes which flowing
water undergoes when it is stilled can seriously
contaminateareservoirandtheriverdownstream.
 Decreaseinlevelsofdissolvedoxygen.
 Proliferation of the dreaded weeds and other aquatic
plants.
 Thebio-accumulationofhighlevelsofmercuryinfish.
Turning sweetwatertosalt
 Because dams greatly multiply the surface area of water
exposed to the rays of the sun, dams in hot climates can
leadtotheevaporationofhugeamountsofwater.
 Soils are often naturally saline in arid areas and are made
evensaltierwhenirrigated.
CLIMATE IMPACT
 The Union of Concerned Scientists found large
hydroelectric dams DO pollute with greenhouses
gases.
 As the reservoir behind the dam grows or floods over
plants; that material decomposes releasing CO2 and
methane;especiallyintropicalareas.
 Thorough clearing of vegetation in the submergence
zone before the reservoir is filled can reduce this
problem, but because it is difficult and prohibitively
expensive, especially for large reservoirs, this is usually
onlypartiallydone.
 CONCLUSION
 Dams are the main physical threat, fragmenting and
transforming aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems with a range
ofeffectsthatvaryinduration,scaleanddegreeofreversibility.
 What is necessary is to consider the overall architecture of the
water development system that will fulfil the objectives and
meettheneedsofsocietiesindevelopingcountries?
 Within this overall framework, it is imperative to determine
how best to supply the water needs of society, in a cost-
effective, equitable, timely and environmentally friendly
manner.
 THREE GORGES DAM OF CHINA

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