ENSTU 300: Critical Thinking and Communication in Environmental Studies
Impact of Dams on Local Fish
Caitlin teNyenhuis, Environmental Studies, California State University Monterey
Bay
Background
The first large scale dams in the United
States were built in the nineteenth century as
a means of water storage and flood control.
(Billington et al., 2005). Worldwide, the
number of large-scale dams now exceeds
50,000. They have not always been viewed
as a positive, though. In the beginning of
the twentieth century, there was a battle for
water usage. San Francisco’s population was
growing, and in the eyes of conservationists,
the Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite
seemed like a good space to build a dam in
order to get water to the city. However,
preservationists were pushing back hard.
(National Archives, 2017). The most noted
voice in this movement was John Muir, who
was a leader of Society for the Preservation
of National Parks. They penned a petition to
Congress stating their belief that the
wilderness of Yosemite National Park
“belongs to the American peoples”. (Muir et
al., 1913). One organization that supported
the use of the Hetch Hetchy Valley was the
Widows and Orphans of the San Francisco
Fire Department. In their petition to
congress, they stated that the city required
the water “to meet its present and future
needs” and that it was a matter of “justice,
humanity, and fair play”. (Gallatin, Jr.,
1913). After five years of debate, President
Wilson signed the Raker Bill into effect,
thereby damning the Hetch Hetchy Valley.
Thus, the debate of the cost of dams was
started.
Fish Populations
Dams are thought to be one of the most
dangerous threats to fish because of their
ability to change a river’s flow. (McDonald
et al., 2012). With the installation of dams, a
river’s natural stream is obstructed, and fish
such as salmon are unable to reach spawning
areas. The fish naturally reproduce in
floodplains, which are where dams are
typically built. Floodplains are full of
nutrients, insects to feed on, and underwater
plants to shelter in. These conditions provide
the most beneficial environment and
therefore produce higher yields of fish.
Without the favorable floodplain conditions,
it is more difficult for fish to survive and
populations drop significantly. (Richter et
al., 2010). In the Central Valley of
California, dams have blocked 80% of these
valuable spawning areas, putting the already
vulnerable salmon species at an even higher
risk of endangerment. (Quiñones et al.,
2014). Even a lower river flow can cause
harm because they cause sloughs to dry out,
leaving behind unhealthy sediment. This
exact situation killed 600,000 trout in 1987
from the Palasides Dam on the Snake River
in Idaho. (Billington et al., 2005.)
Dam Modification
A less permanent solution than complete
removal is modifying dams, dependent on
each individual need. A dam used for flood
control, for example, can be modified to
allow larger amounts of water from the dam
into the floodplain. This is possible by
simply adjusting the level of water flow
released, though could require a change to
the structure of the outlet pipe. (Richter and
Thomas., 2013.) A study was done on the
Thurmond Dam on the Savannah River.
Double, sometimes triple, the usual amount
of water was allowed to be released
intermittently. By doing so, the flow of the
river is in a more natural state, and the
floodplains are in a prime state for fish
spawning. (Richter and Thomas., 2013.)
There is a similar resolution with dams used
for hydropower. These dams use high
pressure of stored water to generate
electricity. The dilemma in these instances is
that the water released does not match the
natural flow within the river. These sporadic
releases can be overwhelming and
dangerous to downstream ecosystems.
Rather releasing water randomly, Richter
and Thomas suggest letting water out in a
manner more consistent with the natural
river flow, such as on a daily schedule.
(2013.)
Conclusion
Dams are a valuable infrastructure for water
storage, hydropower, and flood control.
Furthermore, in 2000 the World
Commission on Dams stated that they
contribute to 12-16% of food production
around the world. (Richter et al., 2010.)
Alternatively, they have been found to
destroy natural habitats of flora and fauna,
damage ecosystems and wildlife
populations, and uproot human
communities’ homes and ways of life. As of
now, there is no right or wrong answer to the
question if dams are doing more harm than
good to the environment. However, there are
answers to lessening their negative impacts.
Through further studies, re-operation efforts,
and policy implementation, dams just might
be able to completely reverse their adverse
environmental impression on the earth.
Literature Cited
Billington, D. P., Jackson, D. C., &
Melosi, M. V. (2005). The History of Large
Federal Dams: Planning, Design, and
Construction. Retrieved from and anadromous salmonid (oncorhynchus
https://www.usbr.gov/history/HistoryofLarg spp.) conservation in california. Reviews in
eDams/LargeFederalDams.pdf Fish Biology and Fisheries, 25(1), 195-215.
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National Archives. (2017). Hetch Hetchy

Environmental Debates. Retrieved from
https://www.archives.gov/legislative/feature
s/hetch-hetchy
Muir, J. (1913). Petition from the Society for
the Preservation of National Parks Against
Granting San Francisco the Hetch Hetchy
Valley. Retrieved from
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7268060
Gallitan Jr., W. E. (1913). Petition from the
Widows and Orphans and Mutual Aid
Associations, Inc., of the San Francisco Fire
Department Supporting the Raker Bill.
Retrieved from
https://catalog.archives.gov/id/7268071
Richter, B. D., Postel, S., Revenga, C.,
Scudder, T., Lehner, B., Churchill, A., &
Chow, M. (2010). Lost in development's
shadow: The Downstream Human
Consequences of Dams. Water Alternatives,
3(2), 14-42. Retrieved http://www.water-
alternatives.org/index.php/volume3/v3issue2
/80-a3-2-3/file
Richter, B. D., & Thomas, G. A. (2007).
Restoring environmental flows by
modifying dam operations. Ecology and
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