Environmental effects on reservoirs
Environmental effects on reservoirs by Jennifer Lamb
- Created by: Jenny Lamb
- Created on: 29-01-13 21:50
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- The environmental effects of reservoirs
- Changes in river flow
- Water may be abstracted from the reservoir to consumers
- The flow regime downstream would be the same although volume would be reduced
- Holding water back during times of surplus to ensure adequate river flow in times of shortage so that water can be abstracted from the river further downstream
- Reduces risk of flooding downstream but also reduces period of lower flow which is important for some species
- River turtles lay their eggs in sandbanks
- Periods of rapid flow are important to wash away sediments from gravel riverbeds, where salmon and trout lay their eggs
- Reduces risk of flooding downstream but also reduces period of lower flow which is important for some species
- Flow fluctuations can change river erosion and sedimentation and therefore development of meanders
- Water may be abstracted from the reservoir to consumers
- Reservoir microclimate
- Large body of water in the reservoir may change the local climate
- High heat capacity of water helps to reduce temperature fluctuations
- Warmer winter and cooler in summer
- High heat capacity of water helps to reduce temperature fluctuations
- Water provides less friction than land, so wind speeds will be higher
- Greater evaporation from the reservoir surface may increase humidity, cloud cover and precipitation downwind of reservoir
- Large body of water in the reservoir may change the local climate
- Habitat change
- Flooding the reservoir destroys previous habitats but can create new and possibly valuable ones
- Wetlands are uncommon habitats in most regions
- The dam and the reservoir act as a barrier to wildlife such as salmon and strugeon that migrate along rivers
- Species in the river will have population booms and collapses
- Flooding the reservoir destroys previous habitats but can create new and possibly valuable ones
- Sedimentation
- Sediments that settle in the reservoir will no longer be carried further downsteam
- Important to fertilise floodplain downstream during times of flood
- Important in helping to build up riverbanks and coastlines and counteract erosion
- Sediments that settle in the reservoir will no longer be carried further downsteam
- Changes in river flow
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