Should Dams be Removed or Maintained?

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Should Dams be Removed or Maintained?
Whether dams should be removed or maintained is a critical aspect that has raised many issues in the scientific field. A dam is a specific barrier restricting or stopping underground streams or surface water. There are specific reservoirs created to suppress floods and use the water for different activities such as irrigation. Therefore, whether dams should be maintained or removed requires factual analysis and integration of skills to address. The arguments emerged due to constant climate change, which has contributed to hazardous issues in dams. According to Foley et al., dams are detrimental to temperature management, water quality, and geomorphology, resulting in ecology disruptions (5229). However, different scientists have given reliable and justified approaches for maintaining dams. Dams make a significant global population; for instance, 45,000 dams exist globally, approximately 15 meters high ‌ (Magilligan). They have significant impacts on the rivers, such as increasing the catchments. The diversity in dam types, such as channel morphologies and upstream catchments, makes it difficult to justify the impact of dams. However, the hydrological changes of dams promote peak flows and seasonal flows, which may significantly impact biological creatures. Based on the geomorphological aspect, it is necessary to understand the justifications behind dam maintenance or removal. Many works of literature have been considered for understanding the floodplain geomorphology of dams and significant strategies to maintain it. Therefore, the research is based on the contrasting ideologies of whether or not to remove dams from the ecosystem. The paper explores why the dams should be maintained by providing biogeochemical and biophysical benefits.
Findings: Biophysical and Biogeochemical Benefits of Dam Maintenance
Dam maintenance enhances biogeochemical cycling.
The main reason dams should not be removed the positive effects on biogeochemical cycling. Dams enhance positive benefits when properly handled. It positively impacts the downstream ecosystems by reducing a load of detrimental nutrients (Maavara et al. 843). In normal circumstances, rivers contribute to a high level of Phosphorus and Nitrogen. The increase in the identified elements contributes to eutrophication in the coastal zones and freshwater. The effects are accompanied by shifting nutrient ratios. However, effective dam maintenance leads to a reduction in hazardous nutrients such as phytoplankton and toxic algae. The reduced load of the nutrients is beneficial and mitigates high levels of eutrophication, thus enhancing nutrient management. Besides, reservoirs are known for eliminating nutrients; however, the reservoirs are regulated through dam maintenance and management, inhibiting river trophic conditions that adversely impact the environment. The suitable approach in dam management is the environmental flow (e-flow). The approach optimizes river-flow management to enhance hydropower and limit adverse dam effects (Maavara et al., 845). For instance, the construction of single large dams is environmentally preferable since it reduces downstream effects. Besides, e-flow is essential since it enhances dam management and production of adequate hydropower and protects the aquatic environment. Dam management can also be used to restore the affected fish populations by restoring the e-flow systems. Dam management can also be enhanced by embracing hydro-peaking, which adequately regulates the phosphorus and nitrogen composition. Therefore, dam management promotes biochemical cycling by regulating toxic nutrients.
Dam maintenance also enhances biogeochemical cycling by regulating greenhouse gases. In the last decades, hydropower generated from the dams has been linked to green energy sources, thus eliminating fossil fuel energy that contributes to the greenhouse effect (Maavara et al. 847). Dam maintenance may reduce greenhouse gases in several ways. Under normal circumstances, poor management of dams may be linked to increasing greenhouse gases. For instance, many reservoirs lead to the decomposition of biomass and produce CH4 and CO2. Besides, the seasonal water emission levels may also contribute to such emission; however, dam construction is based on a well-researched level reducing irregular oscillations and irregular drying and wet cycles, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Rewetting is a critical source of greenhouse gases due to flood zones and organic sediments. The problem is adequately addressed through artificial dams, which reduce emissions. Therefore, dam maintenance, instead of impacting the environment negatively, brings more hope by promoting a healthy environment. Dam maintenance is based on water-scale and individual reservoir assessments, which reduces possible greenhouse gases eliminated from the biogeochemical cycle.
The management of reservoir size defines dam maintenance. There is a positive correlation between reservoir size and the size of nutrient elimination. Reservoirs of smaller sizes have a larger biochemical reactivity meaning that they would emit more toxic nutrients. However, with large dams, the biogeochemical reactivity is low, and thus it reduces the emitted nutrients in the environment showing the necessity of dam maintenance of removal. Therefore, it is justifiable that the large size of the dam plays a significant aspect in addressing and regulating environmental pollution and enhancing it.
Dams enhance the biogeochemical process and river ecosystem.
The construction and maintenance of dams are significant since they transform the river's ecosystem from a heterotrophic system to an autotrophic one. The process is significant since it leads to nutrient conservation and increased retention time. The higher retention time in a dam creates an adequate reaction and synthesis of different nutrients. It also strengthens the autotrophic system that leads to carbon sequestration (Magilligan 3). Besides, the inorganic materials are converted to safer forms that can be stored without any problem. It promotes a biogeochemical cycle that regulates the excessive elimination of carbon in the atmosphere, which may lead to higher greenhouse effects. The key objective of the cycle is to produce a reliable environment that can promote safer life. Besides, dams regulate the terrestrial organic matter that the river carries. Therefore it prevents nutrient degradation and promotes constant organic growth. The process is essential since it leads to environmental safety and security. The flowing nutrients are buried as sediments at the reservoir, which adequately decompose to organic matter. The newly formed organic matter from the process is used for different purposes, such as natural growth. Unlike rivers, dams conserve decomposed matter due to high retention time. Therefore, dams should be maintained and not removed due to the significant impact on the biogeochemical process leading to the generation of organic matter.
Dam maintenance impacts the hydrological cycle and biophysical activities.
Dam maintenance plays a significant role in enhancing seasonal thermal transition. Reservoir stratification is an essential aspect of damming, enhancing conformity in lake stratification. Seasonal stratification is defined by the content of densimetric Froude that the dams contain (Wang et al. 134). Understanding the thermal stratification is a key element that is essential since it determines the role of dams in biophysical activities. The thermal stratification is effective in normal circumstances whenever the densimetric Froude is greater than one. Besides, artificial water regulation, such as dams, is effective since it minimizes the effects of thermal stratification that may jeopardize biophysical activities. For instance, storage and release of water are critical since it promotes water balance at the hydrological balance and prevents the adverse effects of the flood pulses. Dam maintenance promotes water inception that reduces the downstream effects. Dam maintenance also enhances the hydrological retention time of the rivers. The...