Global Dams

 

Source 5:Tailings Dam Spills at Mount Polley and Mariana – The Bullet. (2018, November 14). Retrieved November 17, 2018, from https://socialistproject.ca/2018/11/tailings-dam-spills-at-mount-polley-and-mariana/

 

A Dam that was holding toxic waste from the copper and gold mine in the British Columbia region collapsed. The toxic water was spilled from the dam, causing the largest environmental crisis in Canada’s mining history. The spill proceeded to flow into Hazeltine Creek and Quesnel Lake. This spill ended up destroying the Salmon’s habitat and damaging the water systems. This disaster occurred in August 2014. This disaster can be caused by the forming of erosion which takes place when it isn’t maintained. When water levels rise outdated dams old structure does not have enough strength.

This article relates to environmental science as the spill of the dams negatively impacted not only the environment and animals but the people who lived in these communities. Because the dams were neglected to be taken care of, many rivers had to endure the consequences of the mining companies that were trying to save money by cutting back on spending. Due to their greedy acts, it ended up polluting the river and endangering a species home, and making the water unsafe to even use. When the dam spilled it spilled toxic chemicals such as lead, phosphorus, mercury, and more.  Due to the lack of maintenance and the lack of intrusion by the gov in stepping in and making sure that the dams were up to code, caused the water to now be tainted. With this spill, it negatively impacted many and ruined animals habitats as well.

Global Dams

Source 4: Blom, N. (2018, November 17). SA businesses commit R53m to new fund to tackle Cape water crisis. Retrieved November 17, 2018, from https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-11-18-sa-businesses-commit-r53m-to-new-fund-to-tackle-cape-water-crisis/

The global conservation group has won support from many others for his campaign to further gain water. They claimed that “clearing non-native trees , unlocks two months of extra water a year for Cape Town.” Research shows that in Cape Town dam is supplying the city are usually 75% full after the first season of rainfall. This further helps them to keep in check and attain more water. Andrea Erickson argues that using these nature-based methods will further have environmental benefits rather than methods that can negatively impact the environment. Clearing these alien vegetation will further prevent run-off. Turton argued that based on the weather which can influence whether or not dams can help improve the state of one’s environment and help save the water.

 

This is connected to environmental science as using an environmentally friendly method will help push for the use of the dams. With the use of their dams, they were able to preserve water from rainfalls which saves an increase in water usage. This will positively impact the environment as it is preserving their resources.  Doing this, will many even help fight against the drought, by using the water stored in these dams. As seen when Turton further continued to talk about a “water scarcity approach, in which water is charged on a cost per unit of water. Doing this will limit everybody’s usage on water, and can even prevent waste of water knowing that they will get charged.

Global Dams

Source 3: Service, W. (2018, November 18). Group finalizes endangered orcas proposals with ban on tours. Retrieved November 17, 2018, from https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/news/group-finalizes-endangered-orcas-proposals-with-ban-on-tours/

 

A problem has risen in Seattle where the Orca population has been at its lowest in more than 30 years. The group wants to stop boat tours and tear down jams to further stop the population from depleting until they no longer exist. With the ruckus from  Boat tours, it can disturb and interfere with the Orcas natural ability to communicate and find food in the ocean. The endangered orcas feed off of chinook salmon as it is part of the main diet. However, due to dams, it prevents fish from migrating into the Orca‘s area. This further affects the population and by removing the four dams on the lower sink river it will open up the food source for the animals.

This relates to environmental science as the depletion of Orcas can cause them to fall to extinction as their food source is getting cut off. Dams are further negatively impacting their daily life and health as it prevents them from gaining access ability to natural resources. It goes against the endangerment act that was created for the purpose of protecting these animals as a government’s use of dams is intruding on their health. With the removal of these dams, it will further open up food for the Orcas and prevent them from dying off. The Dams are causing more harm than good as it will affect the lives of the whole species. Overall I suggest if they should remove the dams so that I can help animals and their well being.

 

Dams Global

Source 2: MACAN-MAKAR, M. (2018, November 02). Chinese dams ramp up Lao external debt. Retrieved November 17, 2018, from https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Chinese-dams-ramp-up-Lao-external-debt

Bangkok trying to become the battery of Southeast Asia is quickly accepting Chinese loans to further build more dams. This is continuing to further increase the countries debt to China. Sinohydro is linked to many dams that are funded by over $2 billion from loans in Chinese export-import bank and China’s development bank. Many environmentalists say China’s companies are intertwined in about half of the large Hydropower projects that are being constructed in Bangkok.  Because of the increased spending on dam projects, their debt has gone from 12.6 billion to 13.6 billion in just a year. The paisley dam is one of the second largest dams being built by China after the Pak Beng dam which Cost up to $2.4 billion.

 

This Related to environmental science as it shows how the government often uses dams as a solution to money problems or helping boost their economy. Doing this while at the end run the rivers dry as it cannot provide for so many dams. With the use of the money they are instead further digging themselves into more debt and hurting the environment, in the long run, has more problems begin to rise and they cover it up with dams. So many dams being already built so you would think that it would have provided a solution to their problem. Yet they still continue to build more jams which will further increase putting the environment at risk.  For countries already using the Mekong River in further creating dams will just shorten the supply of water instead of effectively conserving it.

Dams Global

Source 1: Karp, P. (2018, November 19). Michael McCormack announces extra $500m for water projects. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/nov/19/michael-mccormack-announces-extra-500m-for-water-projects

In this article Michael McCormack announce the public that and an extra $500 million was going to be added for a water infrastructure projects such as dams which were almost double of the original fund. McCormack openly said to the coalition that he “is not afraid to back jams we want to build more of them.” He believes that doing so will create more jobs and change the construction of water infrastructure in the regional parts of Australia.  Labor continued to attack that announcement as they criticize the government use of money. This 500 million funding almost passes the coalition 520, million water infrastructure development fund.

This article relates to environmental science as building these dams can have a negative outcome in the long run. Yes, it may bring in more jobs in Australia for workers and those in need however over time it will damage the environment even more. However, at the same time, he can bring in more jobs for those who are unemployed and can boost the economy. The government is planning to use this money to solve its problem through The creation of dams. So only temporarily solve the problem as soon the water will be used up. This could make it worse for Australia as their climb is already Pretty dry and can further increase their chance of wildfires

Texas Horned Lizard Once Common, Now must be Captive Bred

 

Cuthbert, L. (2018, October 03). Texas Horned Lizard, Once Common, Now Must Be Captive Bred. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/2018/10/horned-lizard-texas-endangered-threatened-species-video-news/

 

This article tells the story of an animal that is not yet endangered however, it seems to be on a course destined for endangerment. The texas horned lizard was once a common creature is now faced with rapidly declining populations. Among other reasons, this is due to the introduced red fire ants that kill lizard hatchlings. Now often being bred in captivity the texas horned lizard seems to be on an extinction course. One of the most troubling facts was that the Texas horned lizard is one of 1,300 threatened species in texas alone.

 

This article is near and dear to my heart not because I have ever encountered one of these creatures in the wild but because they closely resemble the creatures portrayed in the classic adapted film Holes. However there is an actual much more real value to these creatures. Beyond their inherent value, texas horned lizards are part of a much larger issue of animals that were once extremely common that are now seeming to vanish from our world. However, there is now a bipartisan movement to protect animals like these even if they are not endangered yet. I think that is extremely important.

 

For 1st time in years, chinook salmon return to rehabbed Seattle creek to spawn.

Guevara, N. (n.d.). For 1st time in years, chinook salmon return to rehabbed Seattle creek to spawn. Retrieved from https://komonews.com/news/local/for-1st-time-in-years-chinook-salmon-return-to-rehabbed-seattle-creek-to-spawn

 

This article described the return of the chinook salmon seattle creek. THe chinook salmon is an endangered species of american salmon and is the largest breed of salmon. They are a critical food source to many marine and terrestrial organisms like orcas. While they spend their life in the open ocean they travel hundreds of mile inland upstream in rivers to spawn. They are threatened by pollution of these waterways as well as dams blocking their path up the rivers. This was the case for Seattle Creek, where Chinook have not spawned for decades, however, Seattle creek has been subject to a rehabilitation project and for the first time in years, a spawning pair returned to the creek this year.

 

This article while only describing one instance of successful environmental rehabilitation it is an inspiring story nonetheless. It shows how the effort to protect our endangered species can pay off.  However, just because a couple salmon have moved into the creek does not mean that all the effort is over. It is important to keep an attitude of continued urgency in conservation beyond the moment when results begin to show. In the case of Seattle creek, for example, seattle has passed laws to limit the consumption of chinook salmon and worked to accommodate their migration, however, it is important not to say “okay, we did that so now we can start to loosen regulations.”

Gray Wolf Yellowstone Experiment

Gray Wolf (Canis lupus)

Service, U. F. (n.d.). Gray Wolf (Canis lupus). Retrieved from https://www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/aboutwolves/biologue.htm

 

This article is an informational log about the American Gray Wolf. It gives basic information about the species and various facts about its history. One of the more important sections of the article discusses the effect that the reintroduction of wolves had on yellowstone national park. It benefited almost all of the organisms in the ecosystems from foxes and ravens to aspen trees. The reintroduction of a top predator like the wolf can cause massive changes in an ecosystem even if it is still critically endangered.

 

I found this article very informative, while it did not have any specific argument it provided significant data to base one off of. The study of yellowstone after the wolves reintroduction shows how important it is that we continue to protect gray wolves. That is why it is troubling that the house just voted to remove protections on them. Personally I feel that the continued recovery of gray wolves is more valuable for the world than the economic convenience of ranchers who fear these apex predators.

Bill That Would Drop Protections For Gray Wolves Passes House.

 

Ap. “Bill That Would Drop Protections For Gray Wolves Passes House.” The Huffington Post, TheHuffingtonPost.crom, 16 Nov. 2018, www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bill-dropping-wolf-protection-passes-house_us_5bef4b7ae4b07573881e9981.

 

This article discusses a new bill that recently went through the United States House of  Representatives. This bill would remove the Gray wolf from the endangered species list; the gray wolf would then not be protected by the endangered species act. The Gray wolf had been almost completely eradicated from the lower 48 states by ranchers before it was legally protected in the 70’s. Since then after decades of conservation efforts, the Gray wolf population has grown to about 5,000, still not nearly as populous as it naturally would be. Nonetheless, the republican controlled House of representatives passed this bill, so the bill will go on to the senate. It is a symptom of the long-running hatred of the gray wolves by american farmers and ranchers and the political device of the republican party of apathy towards ecosystems in favor of economic gain.

I was very upset to read the headline of this article. While the wolf has made a significant recovery in the last several decades reaching about 5,000, it is still very much recovering. The ecological benefits of the wolf making a comeback was immense, as we have studied, the food web is an interconnected balancing act, the wolf being reintroduced, reintroduces the very health of the ecosystem. While the supporters of this bill disingenuously say that laws like this should be up to the states, it is clear that this is a blatant and careless act to garner support from middle America farmers, in a time of decreased republican support. This act will move onto the republican controlled senate and most likely be passed, this does not bode well for the health of  our nation’s ecosystems.

12 Extraordinary Pictures Show Animals Headed for Extinction.

 

 

 

“12 Extraordinary Pictures Show Animals Headed for Extinction.” National Geographic, National Geographic Society, 22 Oct. 2018, news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/05/150517-endangered-species-pictures-wildlife-animals-science/.

 

This article contains a collection of photos of different species that are very near to extinction. The Article catalogs pictures of species headed for eradication that are a part of the National Geographic Archive. The purpose of these photographs is to show the extraordinary species we are losing. The pictures include the Vaquita, a very small porpoise that is already virtually extinct, it is native to the californian coast. Also pictured is the Hawaiian Monk Seal and the Cuban Crocodile. The images show a beauty present in our most endangered species, while the species as a whole is desperately threatened, the remaining individuals still hold their form. The pictures depict striking visuals of these animals.

 

This article is a very important one. It connects to the larger movement of documenting endangered animals while we still have the chance. While some are struggling to preserve species literally through conservation efforts, others are beginning to merely document these animals through photography. While this may not directly protect the animals these efforts do raise awareness and public support, and also immortalize these creatures in photographs we will always have. It is interesting that some of the animals on this list are already virtually extinct, yet the individuals remaining continue to live oblivious to their species downfall.