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Example research essay topic: Columbia River River Basin - 3,022 words

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Dams and Fun: a Look at the Social Impact Dams Have on Whitewater Rafting/Fly-Fishing Introduction Since ancient times people were constructing dams to protect themselves from floods, to generate electricity, for agricultural, industrial and other needs. More than 4, 500 dams were built during the last fifty years to provide population with increasing demands in water and energy. Almost? of world rivers have at least one big dam constructed. 1 / 3 of world countries satisfy their demands in electricity owing to water-power. In general, 19 % of electric power is generated at dams. ?

of world dams were built especially (or mainly) for irrigation of territories. 30 - 40 % of 27 millions hectares of territories are irrigated by reclamation dams. Dams were always considered as very important and powerful instrument to satisfy demands in water and energy as well as long-term strategic investment able to bring considerable profit. Some of these profits are typical for big social projects related to development of infrastructure. Some of them are the unique features for all dams, whereas some of these benefits are peculiar to certain dam.

Regional development, new working places, development of industry and export these arguments are often brought by advocates of dam-constructing. Other aims include export benefits either by way of direct sale of energy or by way of selling products of power-consuming industries, such as aluminum production. In general, dams play the important role in satisfying of necessities of life. During the last ten years, construction of dams is constantly increasing. Prima facie it sounds quite optimistic. Yet, more and more ecologists raise the alarm drawing attention to consequences of dam construction.

Lets revert to four dams of the Columbia River Basin (namely Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental and Ice Harbor) to examine the social impact dams have on society and recreation industry as well as rafting and fly-fishing. The Columbia River Basin The Columbia River Basin is very important for national economy and is used to generate electricity, to reduce consequences of floods, to create favorable conditions for systematic water-supply and navigation of ships and boats. The Columbia River Basin is also very important for recreation industry, namely rafting and fly-fishing. According to Dams of the Columbia Basin Website (n.

p. ), the Columbia Basin is the most hydroelectrically developed river system in the world consisting of more than 400 dams with 11 run-of-the-river dams on the mainstem and plenty of smaller dams that generate more than 21 million kilowatts. The Columbia River Dams have negative impact in fishery and became one of the major reasons for incredible decline in fish runs. Ice Harbor Dam Ice Harbor Dam is the first dam on the Lower Snake River Project authorized by Congress under the River and Harbor Act of 1945. According to Dams of the Columbia Basin Website, (n. p. ), the dam creates Lake Sacajawea, which extends 32 miles upstream to the Lower Monumental Dam. Lower Granite Dam Lower Granite Dam is the fourth and, actually the last dam on the Lower Snake River Project authorized by Congress under the River and Harbor Act of 1945.

Lower Granite Dam was constructed in 1975. Lower Granite Dam is 3200 feet long with a height of 100 feet, and employs 2 fish ladders (Dams of the Columbia Basin, web). The dam consists of a powerhouse, spillway, three concrete non-overflow sections, navigation lock, and a rock and gravel embankment with impervious core (Pomeroy Washington Website, n. p. ). This dam has an extensive fish passage and handling facilities and as far as I know, it was the first Dam that used special protective measures (screens) to prevent juvenile fish from the turbines.

Little Goose Dam Little Goose Dam was constructed in 1970. According to Dams of the Columbia Basin Website, (n. p. ), the dam creates lake Bryan which extends 37. 2 miles upriver to the Lower Granite Dam. Lower Monumental Dam Lower Monumental Dam was constructed in 1969.

The dam creates Lake Herbert G. West, and is located 28. 1 miles to the Little Goose Dam Rafting Rafting has become an extremely popular kind of recreation for Americans during the last dozen of years. Our country has a wide range of possibilities for development of this kind of sport due to infinite number of mountain rivers with swift and strong current and people who have strong desire to try their strength and to know what rafting feels like. Rafting is an ideal recreation for a wide circle of people. It doesnt require being a strong specialist in rafting because it is primarily a team-based sport.

One professional rafter is enough, whereas others can be inexperienced newbies. Rafting is practiced on rivers with swift current and demands combination of energy, courage, physical and psychological staying power. But the most pleasant is to enjoy the beauty of nature. Have you ever tried to drift with the swift current of raging river?

Have you ever tried to beat up against the wind, to manoeuvre the stones, to overcome rapids? Have you ever felt yourself a captain of a tiny boat rafting the dangerous river? These impressions are unforgettable. Rafting is a real gift of fortune for people to want to test themselves in extreme situations, to find out if they are is fast in their response to critical dangers, to test the ability to make quick decisions and to run risks.

Rafting: Demographics According to the Travel Activities and Motivation Study (TAMS), American white water rafting tourist market tells us that there are three million potential tourists with experience in rafting. Of the three million North American potential tourists in the white water rafting market segment 693, 000 are Canadians (23 %) and 2. 3 million are Americans (77 %) (Rogers, p. 1). Lets examine demographic characteristics of American and Canadian whitewater rafters. Both Canadian and American rafting sector is dominated by men (62 % Canadian and 55 % American males prefer this active kind of sport).

The average Canadian rafter is 32 years old versus average 43 -year-old American rafter. Yet, rafting is quite young recreation (63 % of Canadian rafters are 18 - 34 years old compared to 28 % of Americans within the same age limits). ? of American rafters fall under the category 35 - 54 years old, in comparison to 33 % of Canadians. Only 4 % of Canadian rafters are above 55 years old, versus almost 1 / 5 of Americans (19 %). The majority of American and Canadian rafters have good education (University graduates: one-third of Canadian white water rafters (31 %) versus almost one-half of Americans (49 %). 51 % of Canadian rafters have household incomes under $ 60, 000 (Cnd$), 26 % of Canadian rafters have income $ 60, 000 -$ 99, 000 (Cnd$) and almost one-fourth of Canadians have household income in the $ 100, 000 + range (Cnd$).

Average income of Canadian white water rafter is appr. $ 67, 700 (Cnd$), which is a bit higher than average income of Canadian traveler appr. $ 54, 900 (Cnd$). As for American white water rafter, his average income is $ 77, 300 US. 41 % of American rafters have household incomes under $ 60, 000 range, whereas only one-fourth of American rafters have income in the $ 60, 000 -$ 99, 000 range. What about household composition, 73 % of Canadian rafters versus 64 % of American rafters live in adult only households. One-third of American rafters compared to 27 % of Canadian rafters live in households with no teens or children. Where white water rafters travel? The majority of Americans concentrate their travel within the country they live (98 % of American rafters prefer American river basins).

One-half of Canadian raters also prefer American rivers (47 % of Canadian white water rafters travel to the USA destinations). Fishing In 1993 a desperate struggle to keep the wild salmon species from extinction, has raised heated debates Environmentalists argued that juvenile fishes were collected at the uppermost dams (Little Goose and Lower Granite Dams) and demanded to undertake certain measures to make Columbia River Basin safer for fish passage (Steve Stuebner, n. p. ). Salmon advocates insisted that partly due to dam-related mortality, three species of Snake River chinook have been listed as threatened, and Snake River sockeye have been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (Stuebner, n. p. ). According to Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, estimated benefits for recreational recourses such as rafting and fishing from removal of the four Dams can be as follows: The removal of dams will inevitable result in recreational-fishing benefits and can be estimated in hundreds of millions of dollars annually for anglers who fish the Lower Snake River.

The economy of $ 6. 1 million in lost recreation spending per year attributed to reservoir fishing that is a result of 76 indirect, direct and induced jobs lost in the vicinity of the four reservoirs $ 61. 3 million in lost recreation spending per year attributed to non-fishing recreation at reservoirs, with 708 total (direct + indirect + induced) jobs lost in the neighborhood of the four dams; Although it will definitely take a period of time (10 - 120 years) to restore and increase recreational nature-based activities, the benefits will proliferate with each subsequent year. For example, it will certainly take at least 10 years to restore fishing and rafting activities Current profit from fishing is estimated at appr. $ 2 million / year . Yet, this is a minor third of the benefits fishing can bring after dams removal; According to estimate calculations, after 25 years, dam bypass would increase commercial harvests of wild and hatchery salmon and steelhead by 29 percent, compared to present-day total tribal harvest on the Columbia and Snake rivers. Fishing: Demographics According to demographics from Fishing.

US Website, 44. 4 million Americans at age seven and older have experience in fishing. One-forth of American males (25 %) fish compared to one- twelfth of American females (8 %). Fishermen spend an average of sixteen days per year fishing. If to take statistic data from 1980 to 1995, average number of American fishers increased 16 % (whereas number of American males increased 14 %). Fishing is the fourth most popular sport in America (after walking, swimming and camping). What is more, fishing is high on the list (the first most popular participation sport) in Florida, New Jersey, Minnesota and North Carolina.

Average fisherman spends $ 1, 046 per year for fishing and accessories. According to Fishing Facts (n. p. ), Total economic output generated by freshwater fishing in 2001 exceeded $ 74 billion, including the impact on retailers, suppliers of goods and services to retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers, plus the indirect and induced impacts resulting from these activities. Including saltwater fishing, economic output reached $ 116 billion. What are the pros and cons of leaving the dams in? The scientists, ecologists, non-native fishermen and environmentalists now demand to remove all four dams to facilitate salmon habitat restoration and to increase possibilities for nature-based tourism.

Such position has raised heated debates in the society. The society has divided in two groups: one group supports removal and the other is strongly against it. We will investigate both opinions. The main argument of supporters of leaving dams in is economic effect from dams. They usually mention dams being and extremely important instrument to satisfy ever-growing water and energy demands. Supporters of leaving the dams in consider that governmental profit will win.

According to Larmers article Unleashing the Snake (n. p. ), the loss of power production from the dams about 4 percent of the regions supply - would cost the region $ 251 million to $ 291 million annually, according to the Corps. That could mean residential electricity bills climbing anywhere from $ 1. 50 to $ 5. 30 a month. The large aluminum companies that sit on the Columbia River could see their monthly electric bills rising anywhere from $ 222, 000 to $ 758, 000 a month The advocates of dams propose to integrate new technologies to make dams pollution-free. Ecologically clean dams create favorable environment for perfection of technologies and innovations. As well as other hydroelectric power stations and works, dams can create new working places and contribute to economical growth and progress in preservation of the environment.

However, the opponents of dams notice that new technologies dont allow predicting either certain possibilities of their creation or character and consequences f their implementation. On the first sight, the idea of leaving the dams in, from the point of view of supporters, seems nice. However, it sounds too picturesque to be the truth. Many ecologists consider that the idea of the Columbia River Basin dams is counterproductive. First of all, the society shouldnt have any illusions regarding low social price for dams.

Those who stand for leaving the dams in believe that this is the way out of the current situation. But there is the whole range of objections of those who dont support the intention of leaving the dams in. The strongest argument in support of dams being removed is that leaving the dams in and implementing new technologies will not be efficient and will only worsen the situation. The main cons of leaving the dams in are as follows: Negative impact on fishing After the dams were built, fish industry has reduced considerably. According to Dams of the Columbia Basin Website (n.

p. ), if between the 1860 s and 1960 s commercial fisheries annually harvested millions of pounds of anadromous fish, especially five species of salmonids, since 1950 s negative impact dams have on fishery contributed greatly to make Columbia River Basin less and less habitable for anadromous fish. According to Larmers article Unleashing the Snake (n. p. ), Wild fall chinook had tumbled from 428 adults at Lower Granite in 1983 to just 78 in 1990. Wild spring / summer chinook had dipped from a high of 21, 870 fish at Lower Granite in 1988 to 8, 457 in 1991 Although the supporters of Columbia River Dams argue that despite of such dramatic situation, no sort of fish disappeared at all, whereas some sorts of fish even spawned, Dr. William Lang, Director of the Center for Columbia River History notes that In 1992, the government listed the native Snake River Sockeye salmon as an endangered species, and in 1998 Willamette steelhead joined the list of endangered fish (n. p. ).

Dams have negative influence on the environment and recreation as well as nature-based tourism; Nature-based tourism benefits (counting both increased fishing and rafting) from removal of dams will be significant. Although we cannot measure value of nature-based tourism, approximate calculations can include in income profit from fishing trips, rafting trips, the value of travel to and from the fishing or rafting site, possible amount of money rafters and fishers will spend, etc. Approximate increased opportunities can be estimated in millions of dollars that will contribute to development and economic growth of the country in general and the Columbia River Basin in particular. Other recreational activity, such as picnicking, swimming, wildlife viewing, hiking, kayaking, nature studying, motor boating, to mention a few will also increase. Rafting and fishing opportunities below the Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental and Ice Harbor Dams of the Columbia River Basin will inevitably increase after removal of the dams. Dams slow down stream of rivers; Dams have negative impact on quality of river water, flora and fauna Microbiological pollution of drinking water is one of the biggest problems of drinking water-supply.

It can be stipulated both by low effectiveness of quality of drinking water (because of pollution) and / or bad condition of waterworks and plumbing. Chemical quality of water is very important and should correspond to standards. In majority cases, acceptable percentage of chemical element concentration in the drinking water has low negative impact on human health. On the other side, microbiological quality of drinking water has immediate and direct influence on health (especially it concerns those people who suffer from different diseases) and can be improved drastically by the way of more effective purifying water of undesirable chemicals.

In such a way, it should be one of the priorities. Dams proved that their effectiveness and their influence on environment cannot be considered exceptionally negative. The major part of spawning places disappeared because they were located above dams, hydroelectric power stations, changes in level of water basin and shortening of artificial fish reproduction and wildlife species. Despite many scientists consider water in the Columbia River Basin to be polluted, current data shows that water quality is satisfactory. Although water quality is not always close to ideal, it is still cannot be considered extremely dangerous.

On the other hand, restoration of natural ecosystems is not an idealistic gesture. I consider that restoring natural flows downstream will significantly contribute to economic and social improvement. It will restore the affected watershed and enhance possibilities for nature-based tourism such as rafting and fly-fishing. Bibliography: Committee on Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans. Statement regarding House Concurrent Resolution 63. May 27, 1999.

Washington, D. C. Retrieved October 25, 2005. web Dams of the Columbia Basin Website. Dr.

William Lang, Director of the Center for Columbia River History, Dams of the Columbia Basin & Their Effects on the Native Fishery. Retrieved October 25, 2005. web Dams of the Columbia Basin Website. Lower Granite, Little Goose, Lower Monumental and Ice Harbor Dams. Retrieved October 25, 2005. web Fishing.

US Website. US Fishing Facts. Retrieved October 25, 2005. web HighCountryNews.

Org Website. Larger, P. (December 20, 1999). Unleashing the Snake. Retrieved October 25, 2005. web Pomeroy Washington Website. LOWER GRANITE DAM.

Retrieved October 25, 2005. web Rogers, J. A Snapshot of the White Water Rafting Travel Market in North America prepared for the Canadian Tourism Commission. Research Resolutions & Consulting Ltd. Ottawa, June 1993. Retrieved October 25, 2005.

web Stuebner, Steve. Salmon advocates say: the quiet slaughter continues. High Country News -- May 31, 1993 (Vol. 25 No. 10). Boise, Idaho. Retrieved October 25, 2005.

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