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.