Does building Dams affect the environment?

[daydreamer]

There are lots of dams and check dams built on a lot of rivers around the world. They help very much to give water to dry areas. But is the environment affected by it? because we are obstructing the natural flow of water. There are talks that there is increase in floods after lots of dams are built. Is this true?

[aru2112]

building of huge dams is seen as a development process but this has a negative effect on mother nature. we are interrupting and changing the natural cycle of many organism, which they are not used to. this has a very bad effect on their way of living in many ways like breeding places, eating places, etc.
this effect might not be immediate but will occur for sure

[nawza07]

At the fist stage development of dams will affect the environment. it needs a large area to develop. but when the dams contruction is done it will create a new environment like a lake.. like other developments, willl have a pro and contra..

[Sid]

For one reason I dont understand why do we always want to stop the smooth flow of nature. Rivers often run along themselves. It is the human being that tries to alter its path just to get some temporary benefits. This in turn can result in serious consequences such as drought, flood etc. I dont think so that building dams should be encouraged.

[ASOR]

Building dams segment the streams and rivers. Some fish spawn up rivers. Some even move between lakes and rivers seasonally. Even small check dams prevent some fish species from being where they naturally were.

As the water slows down going into a dam, sediment falls out of the water. The discharged water doesn't have as much sediment creating erosion downstream. Usually, sediment in the water would build up. Temperatures in the water become different. I don't know if they get warmer or colder, but I've heard taking out some dams results in lower number of carp, many, but not all, species which are actually invasive.

[janwei]

Yes, but we must think about ourselves (the human) first before we think some stupid fishes are where they naturaly would be or a couple of miles away. Building dams gives us water we need to survive. Dams produce a lot of electricity in a enviromentaly friendly way and help to reduce global warming. Dams are important to mankind and mother earth. Fishes and other minor animals are unimportant in comparrision to the problems of humans.

Dams affect the enviroment in a good way.

[Andrew]

As far as I know yes, it does affect the enviroment. But what's more important, us exsisting at all and helping poorer areas, or us not living and having a perfect enviroment. I think the choice is obvious, yes it's not a perfect solution, and hopefully in the near future there will be a better one, but for now, It'll have to do.

Regards,
|Andrew

[Fragile]

The development of dams affect the environment. needs to become a large area. but when
it does the construction of the dam will create a new environment like a lake. other developments, & will have a favorable one against.

[Padalda]

According to me building of dams should not affect the environment because, it is means of saving water and utilizing it in case of scarcity for agricultural use. With the help of dams electricity can also be produced.