Running head: THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF WATER RESERVOIRS 1

The Environmental Impact of Water Reservoirs

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The Environmental Impact of Water Reservoirs

In recent times, there has been a steady rise in the construction of reservoirs as a measure

to develop and manage water resources. Dams are an example of water reservoirs that contribute

to the economy in various aspects such as electricity generation, irrigation, water storage, flood

control, tourism, and fishing. Despite their immense benefits, the construction of most artificial

lakes does not incorporate an in-depth evaluation of their long-term impacts on nature.

Therefore, water reservoirs have several effects on the environment, which include greenhouse

gas emissions, water loss, and habitat destruction.

Firstly, water reservoirs emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Dams release

about a billion tons of greenhouse gases annually, which makes them a significant global source

(Wildi, 2010). Anaerobic bacteria break down drowned and decomposed vegetation at the

reservoir’s base to release methane and carbon dioxide. Besides, disruptions to the rivers’ natural

courses and chemical composition lead to substantial variations in wetlands, which can destroy

the surrounding forests. Deforestation aids in climate change since trees can no longer store more

carbon dioxide even as they release the previously absorbed stock into the atmosphere. Water

reservoirs lead to the destruction of wetlands and increased bacteria activity on submerged

decomposing vegetation, thus facilitating the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to

climate change.

Secondly, the aim of building artificial lakes and dams is to conserve water by storing it,

but most of it goes to waste through evaporation. The world’s reservoirs lose approximately 170

cubic kilometers of water through evaporation, which accounts for about 7% of the total amount

of fresh water that humans consume (Beck, Claassen & Hundt, 2012). Artificial lakes and dams

have large surface areas when compared to rivers. This large surface area exposes more water to
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the sun to hasten the process of evaporation. Additionally, the evaporation affects the

microclimate of the regions that surround the water reservoirs, thus disrupting ecosystems and

causing natural temperature fluctuations. Instead of conserving water, artificial lakes and dams

lose more of it through evaporation, which strains the ecosystem.

Lastly, water reservoirs cause dramatic changes in the composition of rivers, which

affects habitats. Alterations in the rivers’ composition upset the chemical signals that guide

various species through their respective biological processes (Beck et al., 2012). Also, artificial

lakes create physical barriers that deny species access to their traditional breeding and rearing

locations. For example, the presence of dams threatens fish survival since many species depend

on their ease of movement in a river to spawn or seek food. Furthermore, changing the rivers’

flow through the construction of water reservoirs can create hostile environments for the species

that have evolved to thrive in such habitats. Water reservoirs contribute to the loss of natural

habitats, the primary cause of the extinction of many species.

Water reservoirs are associated with many environmental issues that include greenhouse

gas emissions, water loss, and habitat destruction. Dams destroy wetlands and promote increased

bacteria activity on submerged decomposing vegetation, which facilitates the emission of

greenhouse gases. Also, reservoirs lose significant amounts of water through evaporation, thus

straining the ecosystem. Moreover, water reservoirs affect natural habitats, which threatens the

survival of many species. As the construction of dams and artificial lakes continues to expand, it

is imperative to assess and mitigate the environmental ramifications of altering the flow of rivers

and other natural water channels.

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References

Beck, M., Claassen, A., & Hundt, P. (2012). Environmental and livelihood impacts of dams:

Common lessons across development gradients that challenge sustainability. International

Journal of River Basin Management, 10 (1), 73-92, doi: 10.1080/15715124.2012.656133

Wildi, W. (2010). Environmental hazards of dams and reservoirs. NEAR curriculum in natural

environmental science. Terre Environ. 88, 187–197.