Ecological issues: Climate
In a 2003 National Geographic interview, David Boyd, chairperson of Canada's Endangered Rivers Committee for Vancouver-based EarthWild International, states that the largest threat to our rivers comes from large hydroelectric dams, pollution and industry. He says,
"One of the biggest threats to Canada's freshwater ecosystems is climate change, a problem that people in industrialized nations must take responsibility for and respond to promptly. North Americans are the world's most prolific users of both energy and water. Americans could help protect Canadian rivers by using less energy, as hydroelectric power generation is by far the largest single use of water in Canada, and much of the electricity generated is exported to the U.S."
David isn't the only one to note the devastation caused by dams and their manmade reservoirs. The Alberta Government's Ministry of Environment's (2002) Northern River Basins Study Final Report states that:
"...(t)he Bennett Dam has altered the flow and characteristics of the Peace River. Unrestricted, the level of the Peace River varied - seasonally high flow in the spring and low flow in the winter. The dam dampens these highs and lows to ensure peak energy generation potential during the winter months when electrical demands are high. Moreover, the water that passes through the dam is drawn from the lower portion of Williston Lake that remains unfrozen during the winter. These changes in water levels and temperature can alter many aspects of the ecosystem, such as the quantity of habitat, the movements of fish and animals, and the period to which the river remains frozen."
"One of the biggest threats to Canada's freshwater ecosystems is climate change, a problem that people in industrialized nations must take responsibility for and respond to promptly. North Americans are the world's most prolific users of both energy and water. Americans could help protect Canadian rivers by using less energy, as hydroelectric power generation is by far the largest single use of water in Canada, and much of the electricity generated is exported to the U.S."
David isn't the only one to note the devastation caused by dams and their manmade reservoirs. The Alberta Government's Ministry of Environment's (2002) Northern River Basins Study Final Report states that:
"...(t)he Bennett Dam has altered the flow and characteristics of the Peace River. Unrestricted, the level of the Peace River varied - seasonally high flow in the spring and low flow in the winter. The dam dampens these highs and lows to ensure peak energy generation potential during the winter months when electrical demands are high. Moreover, the water that passes through the dam is drawn from the lower portion of Williston Lake that remains unfrozen during the winter. These changes in water levels and temperature can alter many aspects of the ecosystem, such as the quantity of habitat, the movements of fish and animals, and the period to which the river remains frozen."