Hydropower
- American Rivers, Washington, DC (United States)
The author discusses hydroelectric power and programs that are underway with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the US Corps of Engineers to try to make hydroelectric power more friendly to and less destructive of rivers. Point one is that dams deplete the river of oxygen. Point two, they change the temperature so that if species are used to a certain temperature downstream a slug of cold water or a slug of warm water can radically change their natural environment. Point three, they collect sediment and in the process often end up collecting heavy metals. Some of these can get through the system at various times. Hydroelectric power plants are particularly rough on rivers because the generators can often grind up fish.
- OSTI ID:
- 99315
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9401118-; TRN: 95:019073
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 5. national conference on water: our next crisis, Philadelphia, PA (United States), 11-12 Jan 1994; Other Information: PBD: 1994; Related Information: Is Part Of The fifth national conference proceedings. Water: Our next crisis?; Durdu, S.; Patrick, R. [eds.]; PB: 357 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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