Govt’s decision to build two new dams will rejuvenate river Yamuna: Jal shakti minister. (2021, December 19). Retrieved February 05, 2022, from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/govts-decision-to-build-two-new-dams-will-rejuvenate-river-yamuna-jal-shakti-minister/articleshow/88371822.cms

(https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/govts-decision-to-build-two-new-dams-will-rejuvenate-river-yamuna-jal-shakti-minister/articleshow/88371822.cms )

In mid-December, the government decided to extend the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) which under the 90 per cent grant has been given to three national projects to built two new dams in an effort to rejuvenate the polluted river of Yamuna. The creation of these dams is essential for restoring the Renukaji and Uttarakhand water supply and helping bring back a healthier ecosystem. For example, Ganga is required to discharge a certain amount of water during non-monsoon seasons to provide enough fresh water for the areas surrounding the river. Similarly, if we require water flow in the Yamuna too, freshwater will not only be more accessible, but it will also improve the water quality of the river. The main cause of the pollution in the River Yamuna is industrial effluents and sewage that has been discharged into the river by Delhi. There are varying political views regarding who is accountable for the river’s pollution, however, all nations agree that it is their responsibility to restore the water’s health. One method of doing so was by establishing decentralized sewage treatment plants in Chattarpur to help clear the pollution, however, several years later and there have been no steps made towards that plan. Fortunately, awareness of the issue has increased among those affected which has encouraged Jal Shakti Abhiyan to invest Rs 56,000 crore to groundwater-related activities. With this money, the nation has started aquifer mapping while using Australian technology, which is more efficient than the technology they were previously using. 

I think that creating more projects like these will satisfy both the environmentalists, who want to keep the river clean and protect the species still living with the dam, and the people who are less concerned about the lake, yet still want to keep it clean for drinking water. Adding these dams will not only satisfy the water demand, but it will also cause the cleaning process of the Yamuna to be easier and faster. Many countries have shown effort towards keeping their river and their ecosystem clean, and I think that this example should be followed by other nations whose rivers have been polluted by human wastes.

Fresh review of Mullaperiyar Dam’s safety now due, required to be undertaken: Sc told. (2022, January 28). Retrieved February 05, 2022, from https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/fresh-review-of-mullaperiyar-dams-safety-now-due-required-to-be-undertaken-sc-told/articleshow/89177434.cms

(https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/fresh-review-of-mullaperiyar-dams-safety-now-due-required-to-be-undertaken-sc-told/articleshow/89177434.cms )

The Mullaperiyar Dam, built in 1895 along the Periyar river in the Idukki district of Kerala, is due for a safety inspection by the Central Water Commission (CWC). The CWC is a committee dedicated to assessing the safety of dams and was carried out in 2010 under the directions of the apex court in 2010. The committee came to the conclusion that the Mullaperiyar dam was deemed safe hydrologically, structurally, and seismically. Though the safety report concluded that the dam was safe, a review of the dam’s structure is required to be undertaken. In this meeting held on December 8th, Kerala stated that a part of the dam’s structure needed to be reviewed. Tamil Nadu claimed that they don’t have enough time to make decisions in advance, however, the report requested Kerala to expedite the installations of requisite number of such telemetry stations to facilitate Tamil Nadu. Doing so will provide timely inflow forecast which can be used to release water from the Mullaperiyar dam. Though this commitment has been made, Kerala has not yet made movements towards installing the telemetry stations. 

I think it is important to regularly assess the safety of our dams. If a part of this dam were to be frail or close to breaking, it could cause flooding or even further damage, which could be dangerous. In this particular case, the dam is almost 130 years old, which makes it even more important to check. Recently, they decided that it was important to assess the health of the water and the safety of the dam itself by adding telemetry stations, which measures physical, chemical, or biological values. Despite their efforts, however, Tamil Nadu refused to add these stations making it more difficult for them to ensure the stability of the dam. Not installing these applications will not guarantee the safety of the dam and the health of the water, which could lead to complications in the future. 

Tapping potential of the Indus for long-term Energy Storage. (2021, September 30). Retrieved February 05, 2022, from https://www.hydropower-dams.com/news/tapping-potential-of-the-indus-for-long-term-energy-storage/

https://www.hydropower-dams.com/news/tapping-potential-of-the-indus-for-long-term-energy-storage/

In this article, the IIASA explores the concept of adapting to hydropower in the Indus to fulfill the high demand for power across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The majority of the research explored by the IIASA talks about the economic advantages of hydropower and water storage within the basin, however, research by Dr. Julian Hunt found that one of the largest complications with water storage in the basin is water management on a larger scale due to growing populations. The growth of these countries leads to environmental degradation, lack of water storage infrastructure, and outdated irrigation systems. Also, the Indus region experiences various weather barriers such as extreme droughts during the winter and monsoon seasons as well as flooding due to melting snow and ice caps. This could be dangerous as this will heavily increase the flow of the dam and alter the land surrounding the dam. Despite the weather challenges that the Indus region faces, it is significantly cheaper to pump water into the basin making it an effective location for long-term water storage for developing countries.

Though it is cheaper to pump water into the basin than it is to continue their path with their existing power source, I don’t think it is a good idea for these countries to use the Indus valleys for their dams. Short term, it may seem cheaper and cleaner to switch to hydroelectricity in this area, however, long term it will be more costly and ineffective as flooding and other weather fluctuations deteriorate the health of the dam and the environment around it. Though it would be more costly, pumping water into a different location would be more effective long term as there would be fewer risks involved in other areas. Though the Indus region is not the best area to do so, switching to hydroelectricity is cleaner and overall better for the environment. 

Amaral, B. (2022, February 04). Environmental groups wanted to remove a dam in R.I.. they hit a wall of opposition. – The Boston Globe. Retrieved February 05, 2022, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/04/metro/environmental-groups-wanted-remove-dam-ri-they-hit-wall-opposition/

(https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/04/metro/environmental-groups-wanted-remove-dam-ri-they-hit-wall-opposition/ )

Destroying The Potter Hill Dam would be destroying the remaining barrier that blocks the flow of the Pawcatuck River, however, environmental groups, as well as federal officials, wanted to remove it to restore many natural ecosystems that were there before the dam’s construction. Despite their efforts, they were still met by opposition from the town of Westerly, who relied on the dam for power. The final obstacle occurred on Monday night when the Town Council anonymously voted against the renewal of the engineering contract. Now, the project has been shut down, and the dam will remain in operation. This created a dispute between environmentalists seeking to reintroduce fish species such as the river herring and the town of Westerly who are concerned about losing well water as well as water for their boats. While members included on the environmentalist’s side believe that the removal of the dam was a missed opportunity, leaders of the Town claim that the delay was the right decision as they need to figure out the right way to move forward. In short, the environmentalists are concerned about the health of the river and are more interested in restoring the river and the river ecosystems, whereas the townsfolk claim that the river will never go back to its natural state and it will instead be taking away their resources.  

I feel like this article sums up a lot of the disputes happening between environmentalists and those more concerned with human benefits. If the dam were to be removed, it would allow the flow of water which will make it easier for fish to move downstream. Also, allowing the river to flow back into its natural state will also lead to a cleaner, healthier body of water which will ultimately benefit the people as well. Though removing this dam will also be stripping the townsfolk of their well water, ports, and some source of power, there are solutions to these obstacles. 

Philipps, D., Khan, A., & Schmitt, E. (2022, January 20). A dam in Syria was on a ‘no-strike’ list. the U.S. bombed it anyway. Retrieved February 05, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/us/airstrike-us-isis-dam.html

(https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/20/us/airstrike-us-isis-dam.html )

On January 20th, 2022, The New York Times reflects on the US bomb that exploded the tallest damn in Syria. At 18 stories, this dam held back a 25-mile reservoir that kept water from rushing in along the Euphrates River and flooding the houses of hundreds of thousands of people. On March 26th, however, The Tabqa Dam was compromised by US bombs leading to various complications. Machinery failed, workers were injured and killed, and a fire broke out along the river. Various countries involving The Islamic State, the Syrian government, and Russia all blamed the US for the destruction as the Tabqa Dam was on the U.S. military’s no-strike list because of its involvement in protecting thousands of lives. However, it was reported that a group, Task 9, went against the no-strike policy, bombing the damn with at least one BLU-109 bunker-buster bomb, which can be used to destroy concrete. According to members of the U.S. Special Operations unit, the arsenal was able to be released without clearance because it contained a procedural shortcut in case of emergencies. Apparently, this is not the first time that Task 9 has struck without clearance, and their actions have been considered reckless by varying sources. Fortunately, the bombs weren’t able to penetrate the dam, and the dam remained intact. 

This article illustrates the importance of damns, especially those placed along important rivers such as the Euphrates river. Had this dam exploded, it would have wiped out the houses of hundreds of thousands of people as well as caused extreme damage to the environment below. This article is important because it shows that even though there were clear instructions not to bomb the dam, and morally there are consequences besides the environment, people will do anything to benefit themselves. This story is one of the many times human selfishness has almost detrimentally put not only humans but also the environment and ecosystems around the dam as well. 

Rodricks, D. (2021, April 2). Obama’s herring: REMOVING dams on the PATAPSCO brings back a silvery LITTLE Fish: Commentary. baltimoresun.com. Retrieved September 15, 2021, https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/columnists/dan-rodricks/bs-md-rodricks-0401-env-patapsco-river-herring-20210401-gdvlxvowtzakhbwr4vxstfkirq-story.html

April 1st, 2021, Jim Thompson and William Harbold found silver, a little fish that had not been seen in more than a century. The discovery was found just upstream of where the removed Bloede Dam used to be in Maryland. The discovery of the fish was important because it shows proof that habitats destroyed by man can be returned to their natural state. The silver disappeared after the construction of dams in the late 18th century. Many species of fish, such as the silver and herring, were blocked from being able to migrate upstream to their natural waters. Years later the factories closed and the dam was no longer needed. Despite recurring deaths, including nine drownings since the 1980’s, no one was inclined to spend the money to remove it, until Obama’s election in 2008. During his presidency, about 4 million of the 2009 stimulus went to dam removal projects to help the Patapsco. The removal of the Bloede dam opened water passages for migratory fish, such as the silver. 

Dan Rodricks, the author of this article, was very excited about the rediscovery of the silver, and I tend to share the same excitement. Not only does the rediscovery of the silver mean that there is hope for habitats destroyed by man, it also proves that that species found another place to reproduce and survive. This opens up the possibility that there are other species that have “disappeared” because of man-made complications, that are really just surviving in other settings. The discovery, and the whole project, is exciting to me because it gives me hope about the future of our planet and provides proof as to why dams have a negative impact on the environment and many natural habitats. The destruction of the Bloede Dam, and the rediscovery of the silver is related to environmental science because it shows the relationship between the health of an ecosystem and man-made infrastructure. When we removed the Bloede Dam, we gave back the natural habitat that many species of fish need to survive. Removing the dam freed up miles of water that migratory fish can now use to travel upstream into their natural waters. 

Casey, M. (2021, July 9). Bill aims to spend billions to Fix nation’s aging dams. AP NEWS. https://apnews.com/article/business-health-government-and-politics-environment-and-nature-bills-b08ea4a6aedf972148afd9ef22e51bdf. 

Due to concerns about many of the 90,000 U.S. dams that are at risk of failure, Annie Kuster introduced The Twenty-First Century Dams Act. This act proposes that the government spend $26 billion to make repairs and improvements to existing dams in the United States that will make them more safe and increase their power generation capacity. The act also proposes to remove dams that are no longer useful. Because of the increase in frequency and intensity of storms due to climate change, this act is more important than ever in improving public safety and revitalizing ecosystem health.

I agree with the article in believing that this act is necessary for our country and its citizens, as well as the environment. First of all, the way the article discussed all the safety concerns surrounding the dams and how people would be affected if they were to fail provided strong support for this act being passed. Also, the article discussed the environmental impacts of dams and how the environment would be improved if the act were to be passed. Currently, there are around 1,000 dams that could be removed in order to reconnect about 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) of rivers. This river restoration that would come with the removal of dams would help to revitalize ecosystem health and improve the environment. 

Sahagún, L. (2021, February 10). California’s aging dams face new perils, 50 years after Sylmar quake crisis. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2021-02-10/earthquakes-climate-change-threaten-california-dams. 

 On many occasions, dams have malfunctioned or collapsed and caused the loss of property and lives. In 1971, an earthquake hit Sylmar and nearly collapsed the Lower Van Norman Dam in Granada Hills. Ever since this event and events like it, there has been more motivation to look into dam safety and provide funding to ensure dams are up to date and working correctly. Unfortunately, because of the sheer volume, many dams in the U.S. have long outlived the capacity of what they were built for without being renovated. 

The stories of failing and collapsing dams relate to environmental science because they discuss how these collapsing dams destroyed land and ecosystems. These incidents killed many people, but they also destroyed property and animals as well. Reading this article just reinforced the opinion I already had which was that dams are in desperate need of more attention that we are currently giving them. The issue of dam safety stretches across the United States and has the potential to affect tens of thousands of lives, yet the government still isn’t doing enough about the issue. 

Lakhani, N. (2021, April 13). Endangered US rivers at grave risk from DAMS, mining and global heating. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/13/endangered-rivers-dams-mining-global-heating-climate-crisis. 

Endangered rivers in the U.S. are only becoming more endangered due to the dams we have built. The Snake River is ranked the most endangered US river of 2021, and the salmon inhabiting The Snake are facing extinction because of the four federal dams built on the river. This extinction not only affects the natural ecosystems, but it also creates a problem for the Native American tribes who need the fish for food as well as for their culture and their identities. 

This article explains one way in which dams negatively impact the environment. In this case, the dams are restricting the free flow of water and disrupting natural ecosystems. In my opinion, the removal of dams should have been funded years ago before this problem became so extreme. Humans have a tendency of leaving their waste around and instead using the money to fund new projects, rather than restoring or cleaning up their old ones. The dams on the Snake River are just one example of this. In this case, however, we have the chance to correct our mistakes before the problem gets even worse, and it is my strong belief that we should take this chance and remove the dams as quickly as possible. 

James, I. (2021, June 11). Hoover dam, symbol of the modern WEST, faces a new test with an epic water shortage. Epic drought tests Hoover Dam as water levels in Lake Mead plummet. https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/news/local/arizona-environment/2021/05/27/hoover-dam-drought-water-levels-lake-mead/5134031001/. 

Years of extreme drought and increasing temperatures caused by climate change are creating visible effects along Lake Mead’s shorelines. The water level in the reservoir has dropped about 140 feet since 2000, revealing a ring of minerals. This decline in water levels threatens the water supply to cities and farmlands. Mike Bernardo, along with a team of engineers and hydrologists plan water releases from various dams such as the Hoover Dam as well as Davis and Parker dams. This water flow will travel through pipelines to Phoenix, LA and farmlands that are deprived of water so that they are able to produce crops such as hay, cotton, grapes and lettuce. Bernardo and his team also set power generation goals which reveal declining numbers. According to Bernardo, the past 12 months across the Colorado River Basin have the driest on record. 

Lake Mead’s declining water levels are one of many examples of how global warming and climate change has affected the sources we need to survive. As temperatures rise, the ground becomes overheated, melting snow and evaporating it almost instantly. In my opinion, Arizona, Nevada and California need to limit water use and make stronger efforts to reverse the effects of the drought. This includes cutbacks of water use to protect the declining levels of Lake Mead. We need to educate ourselves and use the information we obtain to better plan for the future. Though the effects of the drought are the main cause of the dangerously low levels of water, ultimately, making stronger efforts to reduce the effects of climate change would better help save our water sources.