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But the big difference is that the effects are almost completely local and not anywhere as threatening on a global scale compared to burning stuff and causing e

by chki 10y ago

But the big difference is that the effects are almost completely local and not anywhere as threatening on a global scale compared to burning stuff and causing everything to heat up. This is actually a decisive point because whoever builds the dam will also lookout for the effects it causes and be more reasonable. On top of that I think that the extinction of species is really not comparable to global warming, which will probably cause mass extinctions on a scale that has not been seen before in human history.

kbenson 10y ago
Actually, if mhurron is referring to what I think they are, then it can be fairly global. Think fish migration and spawning, such as with Salmon. Global Salmon population is very susceptible to being disrupted by blocking rivers. That said, I believe there are modern ways to address this problem.
- dragontamer 10y ago
  Every dam worth a damn has fish ladders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_ladder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_ladder Poorly built dams can damage the environment. Except you know, its 2016 and we've figured out how to preserve the environment while providing clean energy now.
  - mastax 10y ago
    The wikipedia article links to this: http://e360.yale.edu/feature/blocked_migration_fish_ladders_on_us_dams_are_not_effective/2636/ http://e360.yale.edu/feature/blocked_migration_fish_ladders_... Not exactly a glowing recommendation. It seems a lot like those 'nature bridges' over highways that animals never use. A nice idea if it worked, but they don't.
sliverstorm 10y ago
The obvious impact is local, but rivers have sweeping ecological importance, and we dam every one of them.
dredmorbius 10y ago
Salmon, as an example, turn out to be a major component of nutrient transfer mechanisms returning fertilisers from sea environments to littoral watershed regions. http://www.inforain.org/reports/salmon_decline.html http://www.inforain.org/reports/salmon_decline.html

by chki 10y ago

kbenson 10y ago

Actually, if mhurron is referring to what I think they are, then it can be fairly global. Think fish migration and spawning, such as with Salmon. Global Salmon population is very susceptible to being disrupted by blocking rivers. That said, I believe there are modern ways to address this problem.

dragontamer 10y ago
Every dam worth a damn has fish ladders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_ladder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fish_ladder Poorly built dams can damage the environment. Except you know, its 2016 and we've figured out how to preserve the environment while providing clean energy now.
- mastax 10y ago
  The wikipedia article links to this: http://e360.yale.edu/feature/blocked_migration_fish_ladders_on_us_dams_are_not_effective/2636/ http://e360.yale.edu/feature/blocked_migration_fish_ladders_... Not exactly a glowing recommendation. It seems a lot like those 'nature bridges' over highways that animals never use. A nice idea if it worked, but they don't.

sliverstorm 10y ago

The obvious impact is local, but rivers have sweeping ecological importance, and we dam every one of them.

dredmorbius 10y ago

Salmon, as an example, turn out to be a major component of nutrient transfer mechanisms returning fertilisers from sea environments to littoral watershed regions. http://www.inforain.org/reports/salmon_decline.html http://www.inforain.org/reports/salmon_decline.html