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They are but a lot of the old dams, fallen into disuse long ago are being removed. A few new big ones are a nuisance but there's thousands upon thousands that h
by TomK32 9y ago
They are but a lot of the old dams, fallen into disuse long ago are being removed. A few new big ones are a nuisance but there's thousands upon thousands that hinder small rivers
Here's a map, though nothing on Portugal, the Spanish map is quite impressive
https://damremoval.eu https://damremoval.eu
- asymmetric 9y agoAmazing resource, thank you. To quote[0] on the environmental impacts alone: - Dams impact every aspect of healthy rivers. - Dams lead to loss of river habitat as the river is transferred into impoundments, (impoundments or reservoirs are not lakes). - Dams lead to loss of river habitat as the hydro and sediments dynamics in the river are severely modified. This impact can reach hundreds of kilometres down the river and affect deltas. - Dams seriously impede the migrations of fish and this leads directly to the decline and even local extinction of many species. If we want to keep certain fish species in Europe, like eel, sturgeon, salmon, it is of great importance to restore connectivity from sea to source. However, we tend to focus on fish in relation to dam impacts; but many other species living in the water and on land depend on natural rivers and would benefit from free- flowing rivers. - Modification of water dynamics do also alter habitats and thereby favouring different, often invasive species [0]: https://damremoval.eu/about/ https://damremoval.eu/about/
- icebraining 9y agoYes. In fact, the biggest dam in Portugal (Alqueva) has probably had a negative impact on multiple species of land carnivores, including endangered species like the Iberian lynx, due to its large extension of flooded land.
- mping 9y agoDamned if you do, damned if you don't? Pun intended.