Hydro-electricity is often seen as an environmentally friendly source of power. The lack of smokestacks, noise, and obvious pollution inspires hope; however, this is not the whole story.
A primary effect of hydro-electric power generation is its impact of damming rivers and waterways, and flooding vast areas of forests, valley, and lakes. As with other industrial activities, the environmental impacts of hydro development are felt far beyond the local site. Massive transmission corridors and supporting road networks fragment Boreal habitat across thousands of kilometers.
Water levels in lakes and rivers fluctuate to unnaturally high and low levels at the control of hydro. This causes tremendous shoreline erosion leading to the disappearance of islands and shoreline habitat. The extensive loss of forest over the flooded area in addition to the shoreline creates and even larger loss of habitat for animals and birds. The alteration of river and lakes destroys spawning areas for fish. Dead trees lining shores and at the bottom of reservoirs create abnormal levels of sedimentation, leading to higher levels of mercury. Levels are often so high that fish are too contaminated to eat for several decades after the initial flooding occurs.
For Aboriginal peoples who are intrinsically linked to the land and the waterways, these impacts can have a devastating impact on cultures and communities.
Canada builds more dams and diverts more water than any other nation. As energy demands soar and coal-fired plants are shut down, Canadian provinces are planning major hydro developments to supplement those already in place. Much of the hydropower produced in Canada provides energy purchased by the United States.
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