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 When water levels rise outdated dams old structure does not have enough strength.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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Many wildfires have been going on in California and many are searching for solutions on what to do. The recent “Carr fire” is the eighth largest fire in California. This is causing alarm as people are looking towards building more dams to fix this problem. President Trump was seen voicing his opinion on the matter as he believed Jerry brown was to blame for not allowing much water to come in. Critics say that the real problem is climate change as it is causing many wildfires and maybe leading California back into the extreme level of drought.

In my opinion, I feel that another dam would help as we need to adapt to these wildfires and people need water to survive so it would be needed in this case. I also feel that it would help certainly in this situation to supply water as the fire negatively impacts the environment when it ends up burning the soil, so now nothing can grow back on it, and it can even spread all the way to cities. With the water, we are able to prevent these wildfires from spreading as there will be a quick and accessible dam there to help.

There was in the earthquake in San Jose, with a magnitude of 3.4 that scared many, as it ran near the dam by Milpitas. Luckily no issues were found, as the magnitude quake was on the Calaveras Fault, which would have then resulted in the aged dam’s walls to slump over and the water to flood over. This is raising questions on whether or not they should destroy the dam, as they are now instead of building a new dam to reduce water use by 65 percent.

I think this new idea of building a dam so as to use less water is beneficial to the environment as it is being created to have higher walls to prevent from destruction during future earthquakes, and is also reducing the use of water by 65 percent which I feel is really beneficial to the environment since California is still in a drought, not as extreme as before however we should reduce the number of dams we built so that it won’t dry important rivers. Overall I think this idea will be beneficial over time and further prevent the dam from collapsing during an earthquake.

This author talks about using artificial intelligence to further help repair the dam before they end up deteriorating. This Is useful as researchers are not able to tell when a Dam needs to be prepared and by the damages start to actually show, by then it is going to cost even more money to repair. This is beneficial as Dams age over time and ends up flooding due to the fact that they don’t get the right type of care, in order to last a really long time. Using climate data they are then able to predict the impact the climate would have on the Dam and then repair certain weak spots to then help them stand stronger.

In my opinion, I think this is a great idea, as it is preventing the waste of taxpayers money, and because it prevents flooding, now water won’t go to waste and instead conserved. I think that over time this will be beneficial for dams that haven’t already aged too much, as I feel that it wouldn’t be beneficial to old Dams as they are already deteriorating  and bad for the environment due to the rivers drying up, so might as well shut those ones down but try to help the Dams that are still in good condition.

This article touches on the problematic topic of whether or not they should follow through on the three billion dollar deal to build a Dam on the San Joaquin River. MAny people are going against it and instead want to make sure that the Dam never happens as it takes a few billion dollars to create when instead that money can be used for better ways. Opposers brought up the fact that even building the Dam would make no difference as the river is almost dried up as is, so there wouldn’t even be enough water to go around.

In my opinion, I feel that building the dam would be not only a waste of money but a waste of water, as I think they should instead look to other solution instead of worsening the problem. Building a dam to solve the drought problem in California isn’t going to be practical to do as more water is being used and billions of dollars are being wasted. This ties into environmental science as research showed that due to the eight dams already built on the San Joaquin river, caused the river to dry up. This shows how the dam also have a negative impact on the environment as they end up deteriorating over time and recreational resources.

Craig Miller,  basically stayed in the article the question of, “ Can California’s Wild and Scenic rivers stay that way?” Tim Palmer a photographer, and nature lover has been studying drivers for many years and noticed the human dependency on dams or in this rivers. He goes o to state how now about 1,400 dams are scattered all across the California map, as humans depend on these rivers for water and electricity.  He later goes on to shed light on the problem that global warming is causing the temperature of the river to rise as instead of the trump administration trying to resolve the problem, they are instead endorsing on elevating the Shasta dam by 18 feet which is problematic as there are issues already being seen in the dams.

This article relates to Environmental science in many ways as it is informing readers of problems arising in the California dams. Doing this it is able to bring more awareness of the problem as there is a huge human dependency on these dams as natural resources for electricity and etc. I find it quite disturbing that instead of the Trump administration doing something to further prevent these dams from collapsing over time due to global warming, they are instead thinking about ways to further expand dams which I feel is not practical in this situation. I feel that with this article it could further enlighten those who are not aware of the negative impact this could have on the environment.