What is an alternative?

Question

Instead of building a dam, what is more of an enviromentally safer solution?

Instead of building a dam, what is more of an enviromentally safer solution?

BTW it's a water dam

Answer 1

There are three primary reasons why dams are built, which are:

1) Water conservation for drinking and irrigation
2) Flood control
3) Hydroelectric power

The drawback is:

1) Loss of downstream ecology and habitat (silt and lack of water)
2) Flooded valleys, disruption of wildlife corridors

Now, 3) in the future may be met by other means, such as fusion power ultimately, which will require no "environmental footprint". However, 1) and 2) are difficult to achieve other than by use of dams. One way is to make greater use of "offstream dams", which are other locations in less environmentally sensitive regions serve for reservoirs, and while the flood control dam will still be in place, water can be pumped to the offstream reservoirs, keeping the lake level low behind the dam, thereby conserving as much of the natural landscape. For critical river environments, much of the stream flow may be returned to their natural state, particularly for rivers of historic salmon runs, with relatively small impact on the total water management problem.

A notable candidate for complete removal of dam and restoration of natural landscape would be the Hetch-Hetchy Reservior, frequently called, "the 2nd Yosemite". Proposals to do that are already underway.

Unfortunately, water demand and management in this country is so critical, with cities, farms, and states fighting for water rights, that making changes wtih any dam except the smallest ones is a formidable challenge for the foreseeable future.

Answer 2

Depends on what the dam is being built for. If it's for electricity generation for example, you could look at alternatives like wind generators or electricity conservation policies.

Answer 3

How about NOT building a damn dam.