Dam Decision

The question of whether or not a dam should be removed from a river system is a difficult one to answer. Dam’s have both positive and negative aspects. Although many feel that dams are both a good investment and a positive addition to the environment, some feel that the exact opposite is true. Adding a dam to a river ecosystem could generate appeal and earnings for those involved but at what cost? When a dam is introduced to an ecosystem it could completely disrupt it. Many ways in which the disruption of an ecosystem can be the result of a dam and their other negative effects will be explored in the essay that follows.

Firstly, when considering the environmental aspect of dams in river systems, the effect on other industries can not be simply passed over. On a short term scale, a drastic decrease in the population of fish in the ecosystem may not be anticipated. Not only would the restriction of water flow result in flooding, the fish ramps that are sometimes installed simply do not suffice in assisting the fish population in swimming upstream and crossing a dam. With a decrease in the population in aquatic life, the aquaculture industry’s profit margin would experience radical abatement.


Secondly, dams can result in a serious reduction in economics. Not only can the cost of a dam achieve upwards of one hundred and sixty-five million dollars (the Hoover Dam, constructed in march of 1931), but this water could be put to better use and benefit a great number of the world’s population. The momentum that is brought to a stand still by an enormous wall of steel and concrete could be used in the generation of hydroelectricity. While some dams do generate large amounts of money, others can lead tax payers into debt after funding one. The risk of putting everyone within close proximity to a dam in hopes of earning a profit is simply too great.

Finally, the aesthetic values of adding a dam to an ecosystem are simply nonexistent. Although the view from the top of a dam could be potentially breathtaking, the enormous wall of steel and concrete would be nothing more than an eye sore for those who are unfortunate enough to have to experience it. An example of a long term effect of a dam in relation to aesthetics is the potential negative effects on the surrounding vegetation. Not all plant life would survive under the new conditions and thus the beauty of much of these plants would be lost to the area.

In conclusion, the addition of a dam to a river ecosystem can have some positive results. However, the small amounts of positive aspects are drastically outweighed by the negatives. On a multitude of levels including environmental, economics, and aesthetics, the truth that introducing a dam to a river ecosystem has no value when considering the consequences, simply cannot be ignored.