The Hoover Dam and Colorado River Discussion

There are several dams along the Colorado River that are a major source of hydroelectric power. One dam that is also known to have negative effect on the environment since it was built is the Hoover Dam. Created in 1931, the building of this dam created many jobs for people during the Great Depression. While the dam created work for the American people and a new source of power, the construction of the dam lowered the Colorado River bed and lowered the groundwater table. This had effects on the local plants, whose roots could not reach the deeper water table. This also affects animals because they depend upon the local plants for food. The erosion of the riverbanks and the change in watershed also affects the delicately balanced ecosystem of the area. Temperatures were altered because of the dam, which effect plant and animal life in Lake Mead, the reservoir that are adapted to the natural temperatures of the water. Additionally, the Hoover Dam regulated natural flooding of the area. Changing the natural flooding cycle of the ecosystem endangered many plants and animals that were adapted to this flooding already.

While the dams along the river are affecting the river and local ecosystems, hydroelectric power is effective source of power. The Hoover Dam shows that while this source of power is effective, environmental effects must be considered before creating any dam.

Class Discussion 4/10/12

In class today we discussed the major ways of producing electricity. These include:

1. Hydro
2. Nuclear
3. Coal
4. Wind
5. Geothermal
6. Tidal
7. Solar

On the Northeast trip, students will be visiting many of these facilities and discussing their processes more in depth. We discussed the difference between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. While it was once believed that nuclear fission could produce the cheapest electricity the world has ever seen, nuclear power plants can only use fusion, which is extremely expensive.

There are many risks to nuclear power plants, but there are also many benefits that make nuclear power a beneficial choice. For instance, nuclear power plants emit few toxins into the air, keeping the environment cleaner. Nuclear power is also known as one of the most efficient methods for producing energy. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Nuclear Energy is becoming more popular and at the end of 2006 it accounted for about 15% of the world’s electricity. Also, new advances in its safely make its use for widely accepted. Overall, the use of Nuclear Energy, while it has its risks, is beneficial in the long run.

While I believe that nuclear energy is a good source of energy to use because of its environmental factors (besides the radioactive waste) and its efficiency, I do believe that it is necessary to calculate the risk factors involved before building a nuclear plant. There should be certain regulations that prevent plants to be built in areas where risks of natural disasters are great, and in areas where people live. We need to be more cautious because the risk factors of cancer and other problems from radiation are too great to be ignored. We should be building nuclear reactors in places that are many miles away from any human life and limit the number of people working at the plant. Additionally, risk factors for natural disasters that could have an affect on the plant should be calculated before building begins.