ENV100H1 Lecture 35: 35 - Freshwater Systems and Water Resources (II)

• School: UTSG
• Department: School of Environment
• Course: ENV100H1
• Professor: Barbara Murck

Document Summary

Human use of surface water has environmental impacts. Downstream and transboundary impacts: flows over borders, affects the us and viceversa. Dam obstruction that blocks flow of water in river so it can be stored in a reservoir: can be different sizes, ecosystem consequences, hydrologic cycle. Diversion dam water diverted, but not stored in reservoir. Prevent floods and create them in other areas, provide drinking water, allow irrigation, generate electricity. 45,000 large dams have been erected in more than 140 nations. 60% of the world"s largest rivers have been intensively or moderately affected by dams, canals, and diversions immense impact on where water flows on planet: most rivers been affected by human activity. Benefits: power generation, emission reduction, crop irrigation, drinking water, flood control, shipping, new recreational opportunities. Some places build fish ladders so they can make their way back up: population displacement. Three gorges dam in china displaced 100,000s of people. Proposed site c damn in canada: sediment capture.