Dam Decision Paper

The purpose of a dam is to provide water for towns and cities, create a reservoir of water for other uses such as industrial and for making hydroelectric power. Dams can also help some plants and animals to have a calmer ecosystem. Dams can be used as bridges across rivers. Most dams usually have one purpose but there is such thing as multi-purpose dams.

Environmentally I believe dams are a positive thing. Dams that are properly built save plants and animals from being flooded, killed and forced to leave their habitats. Dams can remove toxic wastes from rivers and streams and help maintain healthy oxygen levels. Flooding is necessary for the life cycles of some plants, animals and tree’s, this is a negative thing. But, these plants and animals that need flooding to live will evolve to live in habitats that do have flooding. Without dams in rivers the upstream areas of all rivers will become flooded causing damage for humans and their property.

Economically successful damns can save property and habitats from being destroyed therefore no cost is needed to repair. Economically I think dams spend and save equal amounts of money. Once a dam is completed they are usually cheap and reliable. Dams last for a long time, without needing repair.

Morally dams can be negative and positive, at times more negative. Dams can be positive if you were asked to give up a small portion of your property for your dam you would feel good about this knowing you helped prevent a possible flood. But on the other hand, dams can cause significant ecological changes that perhaps the plants and animals cannot adapt to, and therefore die or are forced to leave their home. Hydro- power generation is created from massive dams and this is necessary for people to live and survive. The most negative effect morally, environmentally and economically is the fact that millions of people in china are loosing their homes and property to one large dam. All these people are forced to relocate because of one massive dam. This is morally wrong.