Dams: Controversy & Purposes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Grand_Coulee_Dam.jpg
Grand Coulee Dam above is a hydroelectric gravity dam on the Columbia River. It is located in Washington and was built between 1933 and 1942. It originally was constructed with two power plants , however another plant was completed in 1974 with the goal of producing more energy.
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Dams in the Columbia were originally constructed for both power production and flood control. There are 14 major dams in the Columbia River, 3 in Canada, and the remaining 11 in the U.S. Some of the dams are federal, and others are non-federal. Dams controlled by the federal government are hydroelectric. The federal government is trying to make some of their hydroelectric dams safer for salmon (given the recent return of salmon and steelhead to the river), but conservationists are arguing that the current plan is too similar to other plans that have previously been overturned by the federal court. The main goal (and challenge) is balancing the protection of salmon against the operation of hydroelectric dams that provide power for much of the Northwest (Spokesman). The Columbia River is also known for its diversion dams. Because of these, 6% of the river basin runoff is diverted to irrigate 7.8 million acres of land (FWEE). “Water stored behind Grand Coulee Dam in Lake Roosevelt is pumped into Banks Lake. This lake was formed by damming both ends of Grand Coulee, which is one of the geological formations that dates back to ice age floods. The water then flows through a system of tunnels and canals to irrigate croplands. The project irrigates over 500,000 acres and has the potential to be expanded to irrigate over 1.1 million acres. The Grand Coulee Dam is also used as a hydroelectric project and has the capacity to generate more electricity than any other hydroelectric project in North America.” (FWEE)
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A map of all hydroelectric dams throughout the Columbia River Basin.
http://www.bluefish.org/
Watch this Video!
“Rivers to Power” discusses how the water provides a significant amount of power to a large portion of the Western region. The hydrologic cycle is briefly explained and is referenced as the video discusses how this water is a renewable energy source.
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